bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Topical nitrogen mustard therapy in patients with mycosis fungoides or parapsoriasis
Authors: Lindahl L.M. , Fenger‐Gron M. , Iversen L. 
Published: January 2012

AbstractBackground  Topical nitrogen mustard is a chemotherapeutic agent used in treatment of mycosis fungoides (MF).Objective  To evaluate the response and side effects in patients with MF and parapsoriasis treated with topical nitrogen mustard.Methods  A retrospective study of treatment response in 116 patients diagnosed with MF and 71 patients with parapsoriasis and treated with topical nitrogen mustard from 1991 to 2009.Results  Overall response rate and complete response (CR) rate was 91.4% and 53.4% in patients with MF and 90.1% and 40.8% in patients with parapsoriasis, respectively. Relapse following CR was observed in 67.7% in patients with MF and 62.1% in patients with parapsoriasis. Freedom‐from‐relapse was higher in patients with T1‐T2 than in T3 disease (P < 0.01). Progressive disease (PD) occurred in 25.0% and 26.8% in patients with MF and parapsoriasis, respectively. Progression‐free survival was similar in patients with T1‐T2 compared with T3 (P = 0.79) and T4 disease (P = 0.22) and lower in patients with parapsoriasis with <10% than >10% skin involvement (P = 0.05).Conclusion  The present study confirms that topical nitrogen mustard is a safe and effective therapy. The treatment response in patients with parapsoriasis was not statistically different from the response in patients with MF. This supports, that parapsoriasis is not a distinct entity, but an early stage of MF. Nitrogen mustard should therefore still be considered as an important treatment modality in patients with early stages (parapsoriasis) and later stages of MF either as monotherapy or in combination with other topical or systemic therapies.
Reliability and responsiveness of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children–Second Edition Test in children with developmental coordination disorder
Authors: WUANG YEE‐PAY , SU JUI‐HSING , SU CHWEN‐YNG 
Published: January 2012

Aim  To examine the internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and responsiveness of the Movement Assessment Battery for Children–Second Edition (MABC‐2) Test for children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD).Method  One hundred and forty‐four Taiwanese children with DCD aged 6 to 12 years (87 males, 57 females) were tested on three separate occasions: two baseline measurements with a 20‐day interval before the intervention, and a follow‐up measurement after 6 months of rehabilitation. The therapists rated the performance of children in school‐related physical tasks at baseline and after intervention.Results  Internal consistency for the MABC‐2 Test was α = 0.90. Test–retest reliability for the total score was excellent, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.97. A small to medium magnitude of treatment effect was captured by the MABC‐2 Test. The minimal detectable change (MDC) was 0.28 points whereas the minimal important difference (MID) values were from 2.36 to 2.50. All subscales except balance showed acceptable validity in differentiating groups of children whose physical performance had improved or remained stable.Interpretation  The MABC‐2 Test is a reliable and valid measure to assess motor competence in children with DCD. The MID and MDC scores provide the reference point for clinical decision‐making in managing the individual child.
Reversal of age‐related oxidative stress prevents hippocampal synaptic plasticity deficits by protecting d‐serine‐dependent NMDA receptor activation
Authors: Haxaire Coline , Turpin Fabrice R , Potier Brigitte , Kervern Myriam , Sinet Pierre‐Marie , Barbanel Gérard , Mothet Jean‐Pierre , Dutar Patrick , Billard Jean‐Marie 
Published: January 2012

SummaryOxidative stress (OS) resulting from an imbalance between antioxidant defenses and the intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to age‐related memory deficits. While impaired synaptic plasticity in neuronal networks is thought to underlie cognitive deficits during aging, whether this process is targeted by OS and what the mechanisms involved are still remain open questions. In this study, we investigated the age‐related effects of the reducing agent N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (L‐NAC) on the activation of the N‐methyl‐ d‐aspartate receptor (NMDA‐R) by its co‐agonist d‐serine, because alterations in this mechanism contribute greatly to synaptic plasticity deficits in aged animals. Long‐term dietary supplementation with L‐NAC prevented oxidative damage in the hippocampus of aged rats. Electrophysiological recordings in the CA1 of hippocampal slices indicated that NMDA‐R‐mediated synaptic potentials and theta‐burst‐induced long‐term potentiation (LTP) were depressed in aged animals, deficits that could be reversed by exogenous d‐serine. Chronic treatment with L‐NAC, but not acute application of the reducing agent, restored potent d‐serine‐dependent NMDA‐R activation and LTP induction in aged rats. In addition, it is also revealed that the age‐related decrease in d‐serine levels and in the expression of the synthesizing enzyme serine racemase, which underlies the decrease in NMDA‐R activation by the amino acid, was rescued by long‐term dietary treatment with L‐NAC. Our results indicate that protecting redox status in aged animals could prevent injury to the cellular mechanisms underlying cognitive aging, in part by maintaining potent NMDA‐R activation through the d‐serine‐dependent pathway.
D‐carnosine octylester attenuates atherosclerosis and renal disease in ApoE null mice fed a Western diet through reduction of carbonyl stress and inflammation
Authors: Menini Stefano , Iacobini Carla , Ricci Carlo , Scipioni Angela , Fantauzzi Claudia Blasetti , Giaccari Andrea , Salomone Enrica , Canevotti Renato , Lapolla Annunziata , Orioli Marica , Aldini Giancarlo , Pugliese Giuseppe 
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Lipoxidation‐derived reactive carbonyl species (RCS) such as 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal (HNE) react with proteins to form advanced lipoxidation end products (ALEs), which have been implicated in both atherosclerosis and renal disease. L‐carnosine acts as an endogenous HNE scavenger, but it is rapidly inactivated by carnosinase. This study aimed at assessing the effect of the carnosinase‐resistant, D‐carnosine, on HNE‐induced cellular injury and of its bioavailable prodrug D‐carnosine octylester on experimental atherosclerosis and renal disease.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) were exposed to HNE or H2O2 plus D‐carnosine. ApoE null mice fed a Western, pro‐atherogenic diet were treated with D‐carnosine octylester for 12 weeks.KEY RESULTS In vitro, D‐carnosine attenuated the effect of HNE, but not of H2O2, on VSMCs. In vivo, D‐carnosine octylester‐treated mice showed reduced lesion area and a more stable plaque phenotype compared with untreated animals, with reduced foam cell accumulation, inflammation and apoptosis and increased clearance of apoptotic bodies and collagen deposition, resulting in decreased necrotic core formation. Likewise, renal lesions were attenuated in D‐carnosine octylester‐treated versus untreated mice, with lower inflammation, apoptosis and fibrosis. This was associated with increased urinary levels of HNE‐carnosine adducts and reduced protein carbonylation, circulating and tissue ALEs, expression of receptors for these products, and systemic and tissue oxidative stress.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These data indicate RCS quenching with a D‐carnosine ester was highly effective in attenuating experimental atherosclerosis and renal disease by reducing carbonyl stress and inflammation and that this may represent a promising therapeutic strategy in humans.
Profiling of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, p38 and JAK inhibitors in the rat adjuvant‐induced arthritis model: a translational study
Authors: Balagué C , Pont M , Prats N , Godessart N 
Published: January 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Translational animal models are essential in the prediction of the efficacy and side effects of new chemical entities. We have carried out a thorough study of three distinct disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in an adjuvant‐induced arthritis (AIA) model in the rat and critically appraised the results in the context of the reported clinical experience in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Teriflunomide – a dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) inhibitor; AL8697 – a selective p38 MAPK inhibitor; and tofacitinib – a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor; were selected as representatives of their class and dose‐response studies carried out using a therapeutic 10‐day administration scheme in arthritic rats. Paw swelling and body weight were periodically monitored, and joint radiology and histology, lymph organ weight and haematological and biochemical parameters evaluated at study completion.KEY RESULTS All three drugs demonstrated beneficial effects on paw swelling, bone lesions and splenomegalia, with p38 inhibition providing the best anti‐inflammatory effect and JAK inhibition the best DMARD effect. Leukopenia, body weight loss and gastrointestinal toxicity were dose‐dependently observed with teriflunomide treatment. p38 MAPK inhibition induced leukocytosis and increased total plasma cholesterol. JAK inhibition, normalized platelet, reticulocyte and neutrophil counts, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels while inducing lymphopenia and cholesterolemia.CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS This multiparametric approach can reveal specific drug properties and provide translational information. Whereas the complex profile for p38 inhibition in AIA is not observed in human RA, immunosuppressants such as DHODH and JAK inhibitors show DMARD properties and side effects seen in both AIA and RA.
A Qualitative Study of Postpartum Mothers’ Intention to Smoke
Authors: Von Kohorn Isabelle , Nguyen Stephanie N. , Schulman‐Green Dena , Colson Eve R. 
Published: January 2012

Abstract:  Background:  Many women stop smoking during pregnancy. Factors associated with relapse are known, but no intervention prevents the return to smoking among pregnant women. The objective of this study was to determine why women return to smoking after prolonged abstinence during pregnancy by examining mothers’ intention to smoke at the time of delivery and the perceptions that shape their intention.Methods:  We conducted in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews during their postpartum hospital stay with 24 women who stopped smoking while pregnant. We asked participants whether they intended to resume smoking after pregnancy and why. Transcripts were analyzed using grounded theory‐based qualitative methods to identify themes.Results:  Participants ranged in age from 18 to 36 years, and 63 percent were white. Three themes emerged from the interviews with the mothers: 1) they did not intend to return to smoking but doubted whether they would be able to maintain abstinence; 2) they believed that it would be possible to protect their newborns from the harms of cigarette smoke; and 3) they felt that they had control over their smoking and did not need help to maintain abstinence after pregnancy.Conclusions:  Although most participants did not intend to resume smoking, their intentions may be stymied by their perceptions about second‐hand smoke and by their overestimation of their control over smoking. Further study should quantify these barriers and determine their evolution over the first year after pregnancy with the goal of informing more successful, targeted interventions. (BIRTH 39:1 March 2012)
Life Cycle Energy Consumption and Carbon Dioxide Emission of Residential Building Designs in Beijing
Authors: Gong Xianzheng , Nie Zuoren , Wang Zhihong , Cui Suping , Gao Feng , Zuo Tieyong 
Published: January 2012

SummaryThis study is based on the three types of residential buildings with framework structures in Beijing: concrete framework construction (CFC), light‐gauge steel framework construction (SFC), and wood framework construction (WFC). The analysis of the environmental load across the life cycle of the three types of buildings is conducted using life cycle assessment (LCA) according to the protocols of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 14040/44. The functional unit is the three material building designs, which possess the same function and design plan, and are built in concrete, light‐gauge steel, and light frame wood, inclusive of their respective envelope materials. Throughout the investigation, the calculations of the environmental load data of materials, energy consumption, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are comprehensively assessed and compared. The study shows that over the life cycle, the energy consumption of CFC is almost the same as that of SFC, and each of them is approximately 30% higher than that of WFC. Building use, steel material production, cement production, gypsum board production, and material transport are the main construction activities related to the energy consumption; the net CO2 emission of CFC is 44% higher than that of SFC and 49% higher than that of WFC. The main source of CO2 emission is the use of electricity; its contributions to the net CO2 emissions of WFC, SFC, and CFC are 67%, 64%, and 44%, respectively. The net CO2 emissions in the transport category cannot be ignored, with proportions amounting to 8%, 12%, and 11% for WFC, SFC, and CFC, respectively.
Pyrosequencing reveals unique microbial signatures associated with healthy and failing dental implants
Authors: Kumar Purnima S. , Mason Matthew R. , Brooker Michael R. , O'Brien Kelly 
Published: January 2012

AbstractAimAlthough it is established that peri‐implantitis is a bacterially induced disease, little is known about the bacterial profile of peri‐implant communities in health and disease. The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the microbial signatures of the peri‐implant microbiome in health and disease.Materials and methodsSubgingival and submucosal plaque samples were collected from forty subjects with periodontitis, peri‐implantitis, periodontal and peri‐implant health and analysed using 16S pyrosequencing.ResultsPeri‐implant biofilms demonstrated significantly lower diversity than subgingival biofilms in both health and disease, however, several species, including previously unsuspected and unknown organisms, were unique to this niche. The predominant species in peri‐implant communities belonged to the genera Butyrivibrio, Campylobacter, Eubacterium, Prevotella, Selenomonas, Streptococcus, Actinomyces, Leptotrichia, Propionibacterium, Peptococcus, Lactococcus and Treponema. Peri‐implant disease was associated with lower levels of Prevotella and Leptotrichia and higher levels of Actinomyces, Peptococcus, Campylobacter, non‐mutans Streptococcus, Butyrivibrio and Streptococcus mutans than healthy implants. These communities also demonstrated lower levels of Prevotella, non‐mutans Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Selenomonas, Leptotrichia, Actinomyces and higher levels of Peptococcus, Mycoplasma, Eubacterium, Campylobacter, Butyrivibrio, S. mutans and Treponema when compared to periodontitis‐associated biofilms.ConclusionThe peri‐implant microbiome differs significantly from the periodontal community in both health and disease. Peri‐implantitis is a microbially heterogeneous infection with predominantly gram‐negative species, and is less complex than periodontitis.
Effect of the addition of silanated silica on the mechanical properties of microwave heat‐cured acrylic resin
Authors: da Silva Lucas H. , Feitosa Sabrina A. , Valera Marcia C. , de Araujo Maria A.M. , Tango Rubens N. 
Published: January 2012

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00604.x

Effect of the addition of silanated silica on the mechanical properties of microwave heat‐cured acrylic resinObjectives:  The purpose of this study was to evaluate fthe flexural strength and Vickers hardness of a microwave energy heat‐cured acrylic resin by adding different concentrations of silane surface‐treated nanoparticle silica.Methods:  Acrylic resin specimens with dimensions of 65 × 10 × 2.5 mm were formed and divided into five experimental groups (n = 10) according to the silica concentration added to the acrylic resin mass (weight %) prior to polymerisation : G1, without silica; G2, 0.1% silica; G3, 0.5% silica; G4, 1.0% silica; and G5, 5.0% silica. The specimens were submitted to a three‐point flexural strength test and to the Vickers hardness test (HVN). The data obtained were statistically analysed by anova and the Tukey test (α = 0.05).Results:  Regarding flexural strength, G5 differed from the other experimental groups (G1, G2, G3 and G4) presenting the lowest mean, while G4 presented a significantly higher mean, with the exception of group G3. Regarding Vickers hardness, a decrease in values was observed, in which G1 presented the highest hardness compared with the other experimental groups.Conclusion:  Incorporating surface‐treated silica resulted in direct benefits in the flexural strength of the acrylic resin activated by microwave energy; however, similar results were not achieved for hardness.
DEVELOPMENT OF A CHEMILUMINESCENT ELISA FOR DETERMINING OKADAIC ACID IN SHELLFISH
Authors: WANG QUAN , LIU YING‐CHUN , LI JIAN , JIANG WEI , CHEN YONG‐JUN , SONG NING‐NING 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTAn indirect competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay with chemiluminescent (CL‐ELISA) detection for okadaic acid (OA) in mussel muscle was developed. A hybridoma cell line secreting monoclonal antibody against OA was established after immunization of BALB/c mice with artificially synthesized OA‐bovine serum albumin as antigen. Luminol solution was used as the substrate for horseradish peroxidase. The detection limit was 0.175 ng/g. The range of average fortified recovery was 91.8–102.6% when OA was spiked in mussel muscle at levels of 50, 160 and 800 µg/kg. The standard curve for OA showed good linearity over the concentration range of 0.08125–20 ng/mL. The cross‐reactivity with dinophysistoxin1 and saxitoxin was 51.82 and 0%, respectively. In a residue study, the results obtained by CL‐ELISA correlated well within those obtained using the commercial ABRAXIS kit (ABRAXIS, Warminster, PA). The developed method is therefore suitable for detecting the residues of OA in shellfish.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSDiarrhetic shellfish poisoning is a gastrointestinal syndrome that occurs in humans following the consumption of bivalve mollusks contaminated with OA with the main symptoms of diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. OA widely exists at marine products and it is very important to develop a technique to monitor this toxin. In this study, a sensitive competitive indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay with chemiluminescence for determination of OA in mussel soft tissues was investigated. Chemiluminescent ELISA (CL‐ELISA) is a good alternative method for screening samples. This technique has the potential to improve the sensitivity of the immunoassays by at least two to three orders of magnitude compared with conventional colorimetric detection.
A COMBINATION OF HEAT TREATMENT AND CHITOSAN COATING DELAYS RIPENING AND REDUCES DECAY IN “GALA” APPLE FRUIT
Authors: SHAO X.F. , TU K. , TU S. , TU J. 
Published: January 2012

ABSTRACTApples (Malus domestica Borkh. cv. Gala) were heat‐treated at 38C for 4 days (heat treatment [HT]) before or after coated with 1% chitosan (CTS). Following treatment, apples were stored at 0C for 8 weeks and 20C for 7 days as shelf life. The effectiveness of the combined treatments on the ripeness, quality and decay development caused by Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea was evaluated. Severe heat damage was observed on the fruits heat‐treated after CTS coating (CTS + HT), appeared as external decay and internal brown after treatment. However, no damage on fruits heated before CTS coating (HT + CTS) during the whole storage. Besides the completely control of blue mold and gray mold on artificially inoculated fruits during storage, the HT + CTS treated fruit showed the lowest respiration rate, ethylene evolution, malondialdehyde and membrane leakage, and the highest firmness and consumer acceptance among the treatments. At the same time, this combined treatment could inhibit the lost of green color, titratable acidity and weight loss compared with HT alone.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS“Gala” apple fruits become more popular in the world because of its high productivity and good quality. Hot air treatment alone has been used to delay ripening of Gala but caused the loss of peel green, titratable acidity and weight. This work investigated the effects of hot air treatment combined with chitosan (CTS) coating on the ripening, quality and decay development for Gala apple fruits. Compared with fruits heat‐treat alone, fruits heat‐treated before CTS coating (heat treatment + CTS) preserved original peel color, maintained titratable acidity and weight, completely control decay development and showed the highest consumer acceptance after storage. The information obtained from this study suggested that this combined treatment may be a suitable method for the commercial application on Gala apple fruits.
Lansoprazole‐based sequential and concomitant therapy for the first‐line Helicobacter pylori eradication
Authors: HUANG Yao‐Kang , WU Meng‐Chieh , WANG Sophie SW , KUO Chao‐Hung , LEE Yi‐Chern , CHANG Ling‐Li , WANG Tsung‐Hsi , CHEN Yen‐Hsu , WANG Wen‐Ming , WU Deng‐Chyang , KUO Fu‐Chen 
Published: January 2012

OBJECTIVE:  The aim of this prospective study was to compare the efficacy of the first‐line lansoprazole‐based sequential therapy and concomitant therapy (lansoprazole, amoxicillin, clarithromycin and metronidazole) for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication.METHODS:  A total of 169 patients with H. pylori infection were randomly assigned to either the sequential therapy group (n = 85) or the concomitant therapy group (n = 84). A follow‐up endoscopy or urea breath test was examined at least 12 weeks after eradication.RESULTS:  Comparable H. pylori eradication rate was observed in both the sequential therapy and concomitant therapy groups by either intention‐to‐treat analysis [sequential 80.0% (68/85) vs concomitant 88.1% (74/84); P = 0.27] or per protocol analysis [sequential, 85.3% (64/75) vs concomitant, 94.6% (70/74); P = 0.60]. Adverse effects were reported and good compliance was observed in both groups (P = 0.72). Although dual antibiotics resistance affected the therapeutic efficacy of sequential therapy (P = 0.03), not concomitant therapy (P = 0.74), it was not an independent factor for predicting the treatment outcome.CONCLUSION:  First‐line lansoprazole‐based sequential and concomitant therapy were well‐tolerated and comparable in terms of their H. pylori eradication rate.