bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) in malignant disease
Authors: SØRENSEN JENS B. , ANDERSEN METTE K. , HANSEN HEINE H. 
Published: August 2009

Abstract. The first clinical case of a patient with the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) was presented by Schwartz et al. in 1957 (Am J Med 1957; 23: 529–42), describing two patients with lung cancer who developed hypo‐natraemia associated with continued urinary sodium loss. They postulated that the tumours led to the inappropriate release of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), later discovered to consist of arginine‐vasopressin (AVP). This suggestion was later confirmed in several studies. The clinical description of the syndrome has changed little since the original observation, and the cardinal findings of SIADH are as follows: (i) hyponatremia with corresponding hypo‐osmolality of the serum and extracellular fluid, (ii) continued renal excretion of sodium, (iii) absence of clinical evidence of fluid volume depletion, (iv) osmolality of the urine greater than that appropriate for the concomittant osmolality of the plasma, i.e. urine less than maximal diluted, and (v) normal function of kidneys, suprarenal glands and thyroid glands. Measurement of AVP in plasma is not a part of the definition of SIADH. SIADH may be caused by a variety of malignant tumours, but may also be caused by various other conditions, such as disorders involving the central nervous system, intrathoratic disorders such as infections, positive pressure ventilation and conditions with decrease in left atrial pressure. Also, a large number of pharmaceutical agents have been shown to produce SIADH, including a number of cytotoxic drugs such as vincristine, vinblastine, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, and melphalan.A broad spectrum of malignant tumours has been reported to cause SIADH; however, most of these observations have been in case reports including very few patients. This includes a number of primary brain tumours, haematologic malignancies, intrathoracic non‐pulmonary cancers, skin tumours, gastrointestinal cancers, gynaecological cancer, breast‐and prostatic cancer, and sarcomas. Larger series of patients have revealed that SIADH occurs in 3% of patients with head and neck cancer (47 cases out of 1696 patients), in 0.7% of patients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer (three cases out of 427 patients), and in 15% of cases of small‐cell lung cancer (214 cases out of 1473 patients). The optimal therapy for SIADH is to treat the underlying malignant disease. If this is not possible, or if the disease has become refractory, other treatment methods are available such as water restriction, demeclocycline therapy, or, in severe cases, infusion of hypertonic saline together with furosemide during careful monitoring.
Reported treatment of hypertension by family physicians in Sweden and Minnesota: a physician survey of practice habits
Authors: TROEIN M. , ARNESON T. , RÅSTAM L. , PIRIE P. L. , SELANDER S. , LUEPKER R. V. 
Published: August 2009

Abstract. Objectives. To compare family physicians' reported practice habits on hypertension in Sweden and Minnesota, and to assess to what extent different national guidelines account for differences.Design. Random samples of family physicians were selected for telephone interviews on their practice of hypertension.Setting. Primary care in southern Sweden and in Minnesota.Subjects. Family medicine specialists. Participation rates were 236/264 (89%) in Sweden and 183/209 (88%) in Minnesota.Main outcome measures. Cut‐off levels, and non‐pharmacological and pharmacological treatment of hypertension, related to three case scenarios: a 48‐year‐old man, a 65‐year‐old man and a 65‐year‐old woman.Results. Swedish physicians reported significantly higher levels of diastolic blood pressure than Minnesota physicians for the institution of treatment of hypertension for all case scenarios. In both countries, physicians adhered to the cut‐off levels of their national guidelines in the case of the 48‐year‐old man. Minnesota physicians did not use age as a modifying factor for treatment cut‐off levels, as did Swedish physicians. Swedish physicians emphasized alcohol, fat and stress reduction, and Minnesota physicians weight and salt reduction as non‐pharmacological treatment. While Swedish physicians generally preferred beta‐blockers, Minnesota physicians chose ACE inhibitors or calcium channel blockers as the first choice drug.Conclusion. Swedish and US guidelines on hypertension were identical except for higher cut‐off level for drug treatment in Sweden. Minnesota physicians reported cut‐off levels close to national guidelines. For 65‐year‐old patients, Swedish physicians reported applying a higher cut‐off level than indicated by guidelines. Swedish physicians also reported preferring less expensive drugs. As a consequence of the differing national guidelines and the identified physicians' practice habits in the two medical communities, it is likely that the segments of the populations treated and the drug costs differ substantially.
Differences in utilization of asthma drugs between two neighbouring Swedish provinces: relation to treatment in individuals with airway disease
Authors: LARSSON L. , BOËTHIUS G. 
Published: August 2009

Abstract. Objective. To assess the extent to which drugs were used by individuals found to have asthma in a population survey. To assess the relative influence of the proportion of patients treated and doses reported on the sales of drugs. To study if observed differences in sales of asthma drugs between the county of Jämtland (with high sales) and Gävleborg (with lower sales) correlated to a difference in the control of the disease.Design. A cross‐sectional population study with a postal questionnaire followed by an interview and examination of symptomatic individuals. Asthma was diagnosed in subjects reporting a typical history of asthma or repeated episodes of dyspnoea and wheezing, or dry cough combined with reversibility in FEV1. PEF‐variability or PC20 ≤ 4 mg ml‐1.Setting. The county of Jämtland, and Gästrikland, a southern part of the county of Gävleborg in central Sweden.Subjects. All 16 year olds, and 13% (randomly selected) of 30–39 and of 60–69 year olds (totalling 12732 individuals). Subjects reporting airway symptoms in the questionnaire (n = 2100) and 450 asymptomatic controls were further investigated.Main outcome measures. Drug use and symptoms reported by individuals found to have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Results. Inhaled β2 agonists and inhaled steroids were used more often by individuals with asthma and COPD in Jämtland. However, regular use was more common in Gävleborg. Most of the asthmatics did not use any medication in spite of the fact that symptoms were commonly reported. The drug combinations most often used were inhaled β2 agonists alone or in combination with inhaled steroids. There were only minor differences in the prevalence of symptoms reported by individuals with asthma treated in different ways.Conclusion. Differences in the way anti‐asthma drugs were used contributed to the observed difference in the sales of drugs. However, this difference was mainly caused by differences in the prevalence of asthma. The goals of asthma management plans were fulfilled only in a minority of patients despite the sales of asthma drugs being high.
Primary hyperparathyroidism in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A
Authors: Raue F. , KRAIMPS J. L. , DRALLE H. , COUGARD P. , PROYE C. , FRILLING A. , LIMBERT E. , LLENAS L. F. , NIEDERLE B. 
Published: August 2009

Abstract. The rarity of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A) led us to study clinical findings, surgical therapy and outcome in 67 patients in order to evaluate our therapeutic strategy. The retrospective study was based on cases registered by the EUROMEN study group (nine participating centres) from 1972 to 1993. Characteristics of PHPT in 67 patients (41 females, 26 males) with MEN 2A were reviewed. All patients underwent exploratory neck surgery; PHPT was confirmed histologically and/or biochemically. The median age at diagnosis of PHPT was 38 years. In 75% of the patients, PHPT and medullary thyroid carcinoma were diagnosed synchronously, while in 4%, PHPT was diagnosed earlier. In 18% of the patients, PHPT was diagnosed after thyroidectomy, and in 3%, after discovery of pheochromocytoma. Primary hyperparathyroidism was asymptomatic in 84% of the patients; 15% suffered from renal stones. Serum calcium was slightly elevated in 69% (2.9 ± 0.2 mmol‐1) and normal in 16% of subjects. A single adenomectomy was performed in 42% of the patients, subtotal parathyroidectomy in 31% and total parathyroidectomy with autotransplantation in 16%. Independent from the extent of resection, cure was achieved in 94% of the patients, including 13% with hypoparathyroidism; hypercalcaemia persisted in 3% and no information was available in 3%. In an 8‐year follow‐up, hypercalcaemia recurred in 12% of the patients, although half had undergone parathyroidectomy totally or subtotally.Conclusion. MEN 2A‐related PHPT is characterized by a mild hypercalcemia which is mostly asymptomatic and can be cured by simple resection of an enlarged parathyroid gland in most cases.
Walking exercise and improved neuropsychological functioning in elderly patients with cardiac disease
Authors: Satoh Tsunehisa , SAKURAI I. , MIYAGI K. , HOHSHAKU Y. 
Published: August 2009

Abstract. Objectives. The present study examines the effects of exercise by walking on demented elderly patients with cardiac diseases.Design. Walking exercise, mental activity and brain atrophy were assessed by using the number of steps, Hasegawa's dementia score and computed tomography, respectively.Setting/subjects. Forty‐six elderly patients with cardiac disease who were living in a metropolitan city.Interventions. The Hasegawa dementia score was determined for each patient. The memory scores were used to divide the patients into four groups: normal, > 30.0; subnormal, 30.0 ∽ 22.0; pre‐dementia, 21.5 ˜ 10.5; and dementia, < 10.0. The walking exercises were performed every day. We also studied the ratio of the fullness of the brain (S1) to head size (S), represented as a percentage (S1/S × 100). We screened our patients for depression by means of a self‐rating depression test.Main outcome measures. Walking exercise and improved mental activities.Results. The mean numbers of the steps per day for the groups were 3386 ± 676 (normal), 1008 ± 193 (subnormal), 1597 ± 661 (pre‐dementia) and almost no walking (dementia). The mean values of the S1/S ratio for the first three groups were as follows: normal, 84.8 ± 3.2; subnormal, 79.2 ± 4.3; and pre‐dementia, 76.8 ± 4.9. Only one patient was positive with regard to the depression test.Conclusions. The mental activity of elderly cardiac patients with dementia and/or brain atrophy improved with exercise from walking.
Antibodies against endothelial cells and cardiolipin in young patients with peripheral atherosclerotic disease
Authors: NITYANAND S. , BERGMARK C. , DE FAIRE U. , SWEDENBORG J. , HOLM G. , Lefvert Ann Kari 
Published: August 2009

Abstract. Objectives. To investigate the prevalence of anti‐cardiolipin and antiendothelial cell antibodies in patients operated on for atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease before 50 years of age. The hypothesis to be tested was whether antibodies associated with an immune/inflammatory damage to the vascular wall were associated also with early atherosclerosis.Design. A case‐control study.Setting. Departments of surgery and an immunological research laboratory, and routine laboratories of two tertiary referral hospitals.Subjects. All patients operated for atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease before 50 years of age. Sixty‐two patients (33 males, 29 females), and 67 age‐ and sex‐matched controls participated. The diagnosis of atherosclerosis was made on the basis of the clinical presentation and angiographic visualization of the diseased vasculature.Main outcome measures. Subjects were compared for the prevalence of anticardiolipin and antiendothelial cell antibodies, altered serum lipoprotein levels, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and signs of inflammation.Results. Antibodies against endothelial cells and cardiolipin were found in 12.9 and 14.5% of the patients, respectively, which was higher than observed in the control group (P < 0.05). Sixty per cent of patients with antibodies were females. Conventional risk factors were more often noted in the patient group. However, patients with antibodies against endothelial cell and/or cardiolipin had a lower prevalence of hyperlipidaemia/dyslipidaemia when compared to patients without these antibodies (P < 0.05).Conclusions. Antibodies against endothelial cells and cardiolipin are present in a subset of patients with clinical and angiographic diagnosis of severe premature atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease. The lower occurrence of hyperlipidaemia/dyslipidaemia in patients with autoantibodies, in comparison to patients without the antibodies, suggests that these antibodies have a role in vascular damage.
Physical, functional and conditional interactions between ArcAB and phage shock proteins upon secretin‐induced stress in Escherichia coli
Authors: Jovanovic Goran , Engl Christoph , Buck Martin 
Published: August 2009

SummaryThe phage shock protein (Psp) system found in enterobacteria is induced in response to impaired inner membrane integrity (where the Psp response is thought to help maintain the proton motive force of the cell) and is implicated in the virulence of pathogens such as Yersinia and Salmonella. We provided evidence that the two‐component ArcAB system was involved in induction of the Psp response in Escherichia coli and now report that role of ArcAB is conditional. ArcAB, predominantly through the action of ArcA regulated genes, but also via a direct ArcB–Psp interaction, is required to propagate the protein IV (pIV)‐dependent psp‐inducing signal(s) during microaerobiosis, but not during aerobiosis or anaerobiosis. We show that ArcB directly interacts with the PspB, possibly by means of the PspB leucine zipper motif, thereby allowing cross‐communication between the two systems. In addition we demonstrate that the pIV‐dependent induction of psp expression in anaerobiosis is independent of PspBC, establishing that PspA and PspF can function as a minimal Psp system responsive to inner membrane stress.
Intracontinental subduction: a possible mechanism for the Early Palaeozoic Orogen of SE China
Authors: Faure Michel , Shu Liangshu , Wang Bo , Charvet Jacques , Choulet Flavien , Monie Patrick 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThe Early Palaeozoic Orogen of SE China consists of three litho‐tectonic elements, from top to bottom: a sedimentary Upper Unit, a metamorphic Lower Unit and a gneissic basement. The boundaries between these units are flat lying, south directed, ductile decollements. The lower one is coeval with an amphibolite facies metamorphism (M1). The belt is reworked by migmatite–granite domes, high‐temperature metamorphism (M2) and granitic plutons related to post‐orogenic crustal melting. We date here the syn‐M1 ductile shearing at 453 ± 7 Ma by U‐Th/Pb method on monazite. Previous ages and our new 40Ar/39Ar ages of biotites and muscovites show that the metamorphic rocks experienced syn‐M2 exhumation from 440 to 400 Ma. The Early Palaeozoic Orogen of SE China is an intracontinental belt in which decollements accommodated the north‐directed subduction of the Cathaysian continent. This orogen is an example of intracontinental subduction that was not preceded by oceanic subduction.
Association study of MICA and MICB in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Quiroga I. , Lehmann D. J. , Barnardo M. C. N. M. , Fuggle S. , Cortina‐Borja M. , Warden D. R. , Smith A. D. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractFollowing the replication of the association of the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) allele, HLA‐B*07, with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in the cohort of the Oxford Project to Investigate Memory and Ageing (OPTIMA) in a previous study, we examined whether that association could be due to linkage disequilibrium with MICA or MICB alleles. We found a possible association of MICA*00801 heterozygotes with AD in subjects positive for the ɛ4 allele of apolipoprotein E. This finding was supported by Hardy–Weinberg analysis, by stratified association analysis and by interaction analysis, but did not survive correction for multiple testing. In any case, these results do not explain our previously reported association of HLA‐B*07 with AD.
Complementary DNA sequences encoding the multimammate rat MHC class II DQ α and β chains and cross‐species sequence comparison in rodents
Authors: Goüy de Bellocq J. , Leirs H. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractSequences of the complete open reading frame (ORF) for rodents major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II genes are rare. Multimammate rat (Mastomys natalensis) complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding the α and β chains of MHC class II DQ gene was cloned from a rapid amplifications of cDNA Emds (RACE) cDNA library. The ORFs consist of 801 and 771 bp encoding 266 and 256 amino acid residues for DQB and DQA, respectively. The genomic structure of Mana‐DQ genes is globally analogous to that described for other rodents except for the insertion of a serine residue in the signal peptide of Mana‐DQB, which is unique among known rodents.
New strategies for cancer gene therapy: Progress and opportunities
Authors: Cao Siyu , Cripps Allan , Wei Ming Q 
Published: August 2009

Summary1. To date, cancer persists as one of the most devastating diseases worldwide. Problems such as metastasis and tumour resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy have seriously limited the therapeutic effects of existing clinical treatments.2. To address these problems, cancer gene therapy has been developing over the past two decades, specifically designed to deliver therapeutic genes to treat cancers using vector systems. So far, a number of genes and delivery vehicles have been evaluated and significant progress has been made with several gene therapy modalities in clinical trials. However, the lack of an ideal gene delivery system remains a major obstacle for the successful translation of regimen to the clinic.3. Recent understanding of hypoxic and necrotic regions within solid tumours and rapid development of recombinant DNA technology have reignited the idea of using anaerobic bacteria as novel gene delivery systems. These bacterial vectors have unique advantages over other delivery systems and are likely to become the vector of choice for cancer gene therapy in the near future.4. Meanwhile, complicated tumour pathophysiology and associated metastasis make it hard to rely on a single therapeutic modality for complete tumour eradication. Therefore, the combination of cancer gene therapy with other conventional treatments has become paramount.5. The present review introduces important cancer gene therapy strategies and major vector systems that have been studied so far with an emphasis on bacteria‐mediated cancer gene therapy. In addition, exemplary combined therapies are briefly reviewed.
Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation for the treatment of glaucoma: an Asian experience
Authors: Yip Leonard W , Yong Shao O , Earnest Arul , Ji Jian , Lim Boon A 
Published: August 2009

AbstractBackground: To describe the efficacy and safety of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation in Asian patients with glaucoma.Methods: Retrospective case series. Consecutive cases of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation performed by one surgeon during the study period were included. Patients' records were reviewed for clinical and demographic factors, treatments, intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity and any complications.Results: Twenty‐nine eyes of 29 patients were treated. Their mean age was 73.6 ± 9.4 years. The mean follow‐up duration was 15.9 ± 8.9 months. Eleven patients had primary open‐angle glaucoma, two normal tension glaucoma, six chronic angle‐closure glaucoma, five neovascular glaucoma, four secondary open‐angle glaucoma and one secondary angle‐closure glaucoma. Twenty patients had endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation combined with cataract surgery. Mean pretreatment IOP was 21.8 ± 6.6 mmHg. Mean post‐treatment IOP at 18 months (n = 17) was 16.2 ± 4.1 mmHg (P = 0.02) and 17.9 ± 4.9 mmHg (P = 0.18) at 24 months (n = 10). The mean number of anti‐glaucoma medications pretreatment was reduced from 2.0 ± 1.0 to 0.9 ± 0.9 at 18 months post‐treatment (P = 0.04) and 1.2 ± 0.8 at 24 months (P = 0.13). The overall success rate based on IOP reduction of 20% or greater at last follow‐up was 48.3%. Visual acuity was reduced in five eyes. Complications included one case each of hyphaema, bullous keratopathy, transient pigment dispersion and iris burn.Conclusion: Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation may have a treatment role in Asian patients with glaucoma. The success rate appears poorer than previously reported in Caucasian populations. The treatment effect appeared to wane between 18 and 24 months post‐treatment.
Effect of small notch and absorbed hydrogen on the fatigue fracture in two‐step stress test within fatigue limit diagram
Authors: KONDO Y. , EDA H. , KUBOTA M. 
Published: August 2009

ABSTRACTIt is usually regarded as a common understanding that fatigue failure would not occur if all stresses were kept within fatigue limit diagram. However, it was shown that fatigue failure occurred in some special cases of variable amplitude loading condition even when all stresses were kept within fatigue limit diagram in the case of small‐notched specimen. The cause of such a phenomenon was examined using two‐step stress pattern for low alloy steel SCM440H. In the case of constant stress amplitude loading, non‐propagating crack was formed only at low mean stress and not formed at high mean stress. However, in the case of two‐step stress pattern in which the first step stress was chosen as R =−1 and the second step stress was with high mean stress, a non‐propagating crack was formed by the first step stress. This crack functioned as a pre‐crack for the second step stress with high mean stress. Consequently, fatigue failure occurred by the stresses within fatigue limit diagram. In this study, the effect of notch size and shape were examined. The effect of absorbed hydrogen was also investigated. Absorption of 0.3 ppm hydrogen caused more reduction of fatigue limit.