bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interobserver and intraobserver variability in the clinical assessment of oral lichen planus
Authors: Van Der Meij E. H. , Schepman K. P. , Plonait D. R. , Axéll T. , Van Der Waal I. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackground:  In 1978, a clinical definition of OLP was formulated by the WHO. To date, the validation results of this clinical definition have not been published. The aim of this study was to evaluate interobserver and intraobserver variability in the clinical assessment of oral lichen planus (OLP).Methods:  Four clinicians examined a set of 159 clinical pictures of a white lesion in a group of 60 patients. Each reviewing examiner was asked to apply the WHO definition of OLP from 1978, and to categorise each case as either: (i) diagnostic of OLP, (ii) other definable lesion, or (iii) leukoplakia. After three months, each of the four reviewing clinicians was given the clinical pictures of 45 randomly retrieved cases from the original 60. Interobserver and intraobserver variability were assessed by calculation of unweighted kappa statistics.Results:  Interobserver agreement varied from 0.43 (moderate) to 0.77 (substantial), while the intraobserver agreement varied from 0.62 (substantial) to 0.92 (good).Conclusions:  Although the clinical WHO definition of OLP seems to be more reproducible than the histopathological one, there is still a significant amount of subjectivity in using this definition. A set of clinical and histopathological diagnostic criteria with good interobserver and intraobserver agreements (kappa values > 0.8) is very important in enabling reproducible and reliable studies on OLP to be performed.
Adhesion of a chondrocytic cell line (USAC) to fibronectin and its regulation by proteoglycan
Authors: Imoto Emi , Kakuta Saburo , Hori Mayumi , Yagami Kimitosi , Nagumo Masao 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackground:  Chondrocytes produce various extracellular matrices during chondrogenesis. Fibronectin and proteoglycan are major extracellular matrix proteins in cartilage tissue, but the interactions between them are not clear.Methods:  Recently, we succeeded in establishing a cell line (USAC) with phenotypes of chondrocytes from a human osteogenic sarcoma of the mandible. Using this cell line, cell adhesion to fibronectin, the effect of proteoglycan on the cell adhesion and expression of integrin α5β1 were investigated.Results:  Cells immediately adhered to fibronectin and then spread. Proteoglycan inhibited cell adhesion to fibronectin dose‐dependently, whereas collagen did not. The expression of both mRNAs of α5 and β1 subunits was detected 12 h after treatment with proteoglycan, but the expression of β1 subunit mRNA had diminished by 24 h after treatment.Conclusions:  These findings suggest that proteoglycan might modulate signal transduction from fibronectin by decreasing the expression of α5β1 integrin.
Association between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and tumor angiogenesis in ameloblastomas
Authors: Kumamoto Hiroyuki , Ohki Kousuke , Ooya Kiyoshi 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackground:  Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a major angiogenic factor, and microvessel density (MVD), assessed by the use of anti‐CD34 antibody, were immunohistochemically examined in benign and malignant ameloblastomas, as well as tooth germs, to clarify the possible role of angiogenesis in epithelial odontogenic tumors.Methods:  Specimens of 5 tooth germs, 35 benign ameloblastomas and 5 malignant ameloblastomas were examined by immunohistochemistry using anti‐VEGF and CD34 monoclonal antibodies.Results:  Immunoreactivity for VEGF was detected in both normal and neoplastic odontogenic epithelial cells, and weakly in microvessels near odontogenic epithelial cells, suggesting that this angiogenic factor acts on endothelial cells via a paracrine mechanism in odontogenic tissues. Both benign and malignant ameloblastomas showed elevated VEGF expression as compared to tooth germs. VEGF expression was low in keratinizing cells in acanthomatous ameloblastomas and granular cells in granular cell ameloblastomas, and acanthomatous ameloblastomas showed the lowest VEGF reactivity among the subtypes of ameloblastomas. MVD in both benign and malignant ameloblastomas was higher than that in tooth germs, indicating increased demands for blood in the neoplastic tissues. CD34‐positive microvessels in follicular ameloblastomas were numerous and small, whereas those in plexiform ameloblastomas were scattered and dilated. MVD tended to depend on VEGF expression levels in both benign and malignant ameloblastomas.Conclusions:  VEGF was considered to be an important mediator of angiogenesis in these epithelial odontogenic tumors, and up‐regulation of VEGF might be associated with neoplastic or malignant changes of odontogenic epithelial cells.
Expression of ICAM‐1 and E‐selectin in gingival tissues of smokers and non‐smokers with periodontitis
Authors: Rezavandi K. , Palmer R. M. , Odell E. W.E. W. , Scott D. A. , Wilson R. F. 
Published: October 2010

AbstractBackground: Tobacco smoking affects systemic concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)‐1, but its effect on local expression of adhesion molecules in gingival tissue has not been studied previously.Methods: E‐selectin and ICAM‐1 expression on small blood vessel endothelia in gingival biopsies obtained from smokers (n=17) and non‐smokers (n=17) with periodontitis was examined with immunohistochemistry. Blood vessels were identified with monoclonal antibody for von Willebrand's factor.Results: A significantly larger number of vessels were observed in inflamed tissues of non‐smokers than smokers (P<0.05). The number and proportion of vessels expressing both ICAM‐1 and E‐selectin was greater in sites with inflammation compared to non‐inflamed sites in both smokers and non‐smokers (P<0.05). The proportion of the total number of vessels expressing ICAM‐1 in non‐inflamed sites was greater in non‐smokers compared with smokers (P<0.05).Conclusions: These results suggest that the inflammatory response in smokers with periodontitis may not be accompanied by an equivalent increase in vascularity. Reduced ICAM‐1 expression in non‐inflamed areas of smokers could reflect a systemic effect of tobacco smoking on ICAM‐1 independent of inflammation.
Emerging viral pathogens in long‐term expatriates (II): dengue virus
Authors: Jänisch Th. , Preiser W. , Berger A. , Niedrig M. , Mikulicz U. , Thoma B. , Doerr H. W. 
Published: October 2010

SummaryDengue virus infections have been well known for many years; still dengue virus is regarded as an ‘emerging’ pathogen, as the disease profile is changing. Its geographical range and oveall incidence, and the incidence of the associated complications, dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS), are on the increse. Modern‐day travel and increasing urbanization seem to be the main contributing factors. In order to estimate the risk of infection during long‐term stays in dengue‐endemic countries, we tested sera obtained from 323 development aid workers and their family members who had spent on average 9.8 years in dengue‐endemic regions for the presence of dengue virus antibodies.Dengue virus antibody screening was done by a commercially available immunofluorescence test (IF). Reactive samples were re‐tested by an in‐house IF and also tested for cross‐reactivity to yellow fever virus using yellow fever IF and neutralization test (NT). Evaluation of the results revealed that the screening test has a specificity of at least 63.2%. In 12 of 19 initially positive cases crossreacting antibodies against yellow fever virus could be ruled out. Three cases remained indeterminable, whereas four of the reactive and 10 (out of 12) of the borderline reactive cases showed crossreactivity with yellow fever virus, probably due to previous vaceination.We found seroprevalence rates of 4.3% with no significant differences related to gender or area of upbringing. Scroprevalence rates were evaluated according to region of suspected or confirmed infection. In two cases the dengue infection had taken a classical clinical course; in another three cases an extraordinary febrile illness was reported in the history. None of the other seropositive individuals had a history of an illness possibly attributable to dengue virus infection. Our results show that there definitely is a risk for long‐term expatriates to acquire (mostly non‐ or oligo‐symptomatic) dengue infection, which might be important especially in the light of the supposed aetiology of DHF or DSS as a secondary infection with another dengue virus serotype.
A bioassay for evaluating antimalarial activity and for measuring concentration in plasma
Authors: Traore Boubacar , Lazaro Enrico , Gay Frédérick 
Published: October 2010

SummaryOur objective was to develop a bioassay method based on the isotopic microtest of Desjardins and to validate it by comparing the results with high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC). The bioassay was developed using a continuous culture of P. falciparum, and the test material consisted of 32 human serum samples from 22 Filipino patients treated only with chloroquine (CQ) for noncomplicated malaria. A blind assay of the serum was done using the Desjardins method and HPLC. A good correlation (r2= 0.90, n = 32) was observed between the CQ plus monodesethylchloroquine (DCQ) concentrations obtained by HPLC and the equivalent CQ by bioassay. It was also shown that the antimalarial activity of CQ is practically identical to that of its main metabolite DCQ, the activity of DCQ being 0.9 times the activity of CQ. The bioassay is reliable, semi‐automated, and reproducible. This method may be used as a complementary technique to HPLC for determining biological activity in serum and for measuring the kinetics of this activity, as well as to indicate the existence of new metabolites. The bioassay can be applied to other protozoans for which an in vitro model is available.
Evaluation of a commercial immunodiagnostic kit incorporating lipoarabinomannan in the serodiagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in Ghana
Authors: Lawn S. D. , Frimpong E. H. , Nyarko E. 
Published: October 2010

SummaryWe evaluated ‘Mycodot’, a commercially maiketed immunodiagnostic test for tuberculosis which detects antibodies to lipoarabinomannan antigen. Serum was tested from 52 pitients with newly diagnosed smear‐positive pulmonary tuberculosis, of whom 20 were HIV‐positive and 32 HIV‐negative. Control sera were taken from 40 patients of whom 20 had acute non‐tuberculous lobar pneumonia and 20 patients had no respiratory disease. The test was found to have a very high specificity of 97.5% (95%Cl:92.5–100%). However, the sensitivity in HIV‐negative patients was 56% (95%Cl:39–73%), and was substantially lower at 25% (95%Cl:6–44%) in HIV‐positive patients. In conclusion: ‘Mycodot’ was found to be a highly specific and easily performed assay. However, the poor sensitivity, especially in HIV‐infected patients, renders it unlikely to be useful either as a primary or adjunctive diagnostic test for tuberculosis, particularly in countries with a high prevalence of HIV. A larger trial of this assay in Ghana was not deemed necessary.
The pharmacokinetics of a single dose of artemisinin in subjects with liver cirrhosis
Authors: de Vries Peter J. , Khanh Nguyen Xuan , Dien Tran Khac , Binh Le Nguyen , Yen Nguyen Thi , Due Dao Dinh , van Boxtel Chris J. , Kager Piet A. , van de Berg Bob , Butter Jan , Hien Bui , Koopman R. , Portier Els , Song Pham , Thach Nguyen Cam , Yen Nguyen Thi 
Published: October 2010

SummaryArtemisinin is mainly eliminated by hepatic transformation. To investigate whether the clearance of artemisinin in patients with liver cirrhosis is different from healthy volunteers, a pharmacokinetic study was performed in male Vietnamese patients with Child B cirrhosis of the liver who received 500 mg of artemisinin orally. The results were compared to those found in a previous study in healthy subjects. The mean (± SD) area under the concentration time curve was 2365 (± 1761)h ng/ml; the mean (± SD) clearance, 382 (± 303)L/h. The elimination half life was 4 (± 1.3)h extimated by log‐linear regression and 2.4 ± 0.9h estimated by non‐linear regression using a one‐compartment first order elimination model. The mean (± SD) absorption time was 1.55 (± 0.8)h. These results were not different from the results of healthy subjects and show that liver disease has no effect on the availability and clearance of oral artemisinin, indicating that artemisinin has an intermediate hepatic extraction ratio and that there is no significant first pass effect.
Studies of the hepatic mitochondrial and microsomal mixed‐function oxidase system during Plasmodium yoelii infection and inducer treatment in Swiss albino mice
Authors: Srivastava P. , Sharma S. N. , Shukla O. P. , Pandey V. C. 
Published: October 2010

Summary Plasmodium yoelii infection resulted in depression of hepatic mitochondrial and microsomal mixed‐function oxidase system indices, e.g. cytochrome P‐450, cytochrome b5 and phase II detoxification enzyme glutathione‐S‐transferase, while heam and haemozoin registered a marked increase in Swiss albino mice. Phenobarbitone (inducer) treatment showed induced levels of hepatic mitochondrial and microsomal cytochrome P‐450 and glutathione‐S‐transferase in normal as well as in infected mice. The induced cytochrome P‐450 and glutathione‐S‐transferase activities were similar in normal and infected mice. The findings were further supported by the isoenzymic profile and drug‐binding properties of the terminal monoxygenase, cytochrome P‐450.
Successful control of onchocerciasis with community‐based ivermectin distribution in the Rio Santiago focus in Ecuador
Authors: Guderian R. H. , Anselmi M. , Espinel M. , Mancero T. , Rivadeneira G. , Proan̄o R. , Calvopina H. M. , Vieira J. C. , Cooper P. J. 
Published: October 2010

SummaryOnchocerciasis is a major blinding disease in equatorial Africa and Central and South America. Ivermectin is a safe and effective drug in the treatment of this disease and now forms the basis of disease control in most endemic areas. We report the findings of long‐term control of this infection in the Rio Santiago focus in Ecuador, between January 1990 and December 1996, using a strategy of giving ivermectin treatments biannually in hyperendemic communities and annually in mesoand hypoendemic communities. Ivermectin was administered by local health workers from each community. A high level of compliance to ivermectin was achieved, with 81.9% to 98.0% of those eligible receiving the drug at each treatment instance. The impact of ivermectin therapy was monitored using a cohort of 120 randomly selected infected individuals from 8 hyperendemic communities. The geometric mean microfilarial density of this group declined from 19.3 to 0 mf/mg over the 84‐month observation period. Ivermectin had a significant impact on anterior segment ocular disease, acute onchodermatitis and sowda. The rate of infection of blackflies declined from 1.1% in 1989–0.08% in 1996, which is below the vectorial capacity of the Simulium vector and, as no new nodules were detected after 1994 and no children under 5 became infected over the observation period, it is likely that the transmission of this infection was interrupted in the study area.
Poverty and mortality among the elderly: measurement of performance in 33 countries 1960–92
Authors: Wang Jia , Jamison Dean T. , Bos Eduard , ThiVu My 
Published: October 2010

SummaryThis paper analyses the effect of income and education on life expectancy and mortality rates among the elderly in 33 countries for the period 1960–92 and assesses how that relationship has changed over time as a result of technical progress. Our outcome variables are life expectancy at age 60 and the probability of dying between age 60 and age 80 for both males and females. The data are from vital‐registration based life tables published by national statistical offices for several years during this period. We estimate regressions with determinants that include GDP per capita (adjusted for purchasing power), education and time (as a proxy for technical progress). As the available measure of education failed to account for variation in life expectancy or mortality at age 60, our reported analyses focus on a simplified model with only income and time as predictors. The results indicate that, controlling for income, mortality rates among the elderly have declined considerably over the past three decades. We also find that poverty (as measured by low average income levels) explains some of the variation in both life expectancy at age 60 and mortality rates among the elderly across the countries in the sample. The explained amount of variation is more substantial for females than for males. While poverty does adversely affect mortality rates among the elderly (and the strength of this effect is estimated to beincreasingover time), technical progress appears far more important in the period following 1960. Predicted female life expectancy (at age 60) in 1960 at the mean income level in 1960 was, for example 18.8 years; income growth to 1992 increased this by an estimated 0.7 years, whereas technical progress increased it by 2.0 years.We then use the estimated regression results to compare country performance on life expectancy of the elderly, controlling for levels of poverty (or income), and to assess how performance has varied over time. High performing countries, on female life expectancy at age 60, for the period around 1990, included Chile (1.0 years longer life expectancy), China (1.7 years longer), France (2.0 years longer), Japan (1.9 years longer), and Switzerland (1.3 years longer). Poorly performing countries included Denmark (1.1 years shorter life expectancy than predicted from income), Hungary (1.4 years shorter), Iceland (1.2 years shorter), Malaysia (1.6 years shorter), and Trinidad and Tobago (3.9 years shorter). Chile and Switzerland registered major improvements in relative performance over this period; Norway, Taiwan and the USA, in contrast showed major declines in performance between 1980 and the early 1990s.
Verbal autopsies for adult deaths: their development and validation in a multicentre study
Authors: Chandramohan Daniel , Maude Gillian H. , Rodrigues Laura C. , Hayes Richard J. 
Published: October 2010

Summary background Verbal autopsy (VA) has been widely used to ascertain causes of child deaths, but little is known about the usefulness of VA for adult deaths. This paper describes the process used to develop a VA tool for adult deaths and the results of a multicentre validation of this tool. methods A mortality classification was developed by including causes of death that might be arrived at by VAs and causes that are responsive to public health interventions. An algorithm was designed for each cause in the classification, based on classifying symptoms into essential, supportive and differential. A structured questionnaire designed to elicit information on these symptoms was developed in English translated into the local languages. The tool was validated on deaths occurring at hospitals in Tanzania (315 deaths), Ethiopia (249) and Ghana (232). Hospital records of all adult deaths occurring at the study hospitals from June 1993 to April 1995 were collected prospectively. Non‐medical interviewers with at least 12 years of formal education conducted VA interviews. Causes of death were diagnosed by a panel of physicians and by a computerized algorithm. The validity of the VA was assessed by comparing the VA diagnoses with hospital diagnoses. results Specificity of VAs by physicians fell below 95% only for acute febrile illness (AFI) and TB/AIDS. Sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV), however, varied widely both across the sites and between causes. Sensitivity was > 75% for tetanus, rabies, direct maternal causes, injuries and TB/AIDS and ranged between 60% and 74% for diarrhoea, acute abdominal conditions and AFI. The PPV was > 75% for tetanus, rabies, hepatitis and injuries and ranged between 60 and 74% for meningitis, AFI, TB/AIDS and direct maternal causes. When the communicable diseases were combined in a single group, the sensitivity was 82%, specificity 78% and PPV 85%. For the group of noncommunicable diseases the corresponding sensitivity, specificity and PPV were 71%, 87% and 67%, respectively. Use of an algorithm resulted in lower sensitivity, specificity and PPV than the VAs by physician. conclusion VAs by a panel of physicians performed better than an opinion‐based algorithm. The validity of VA diagnosis was highest for AFI, direct maternal causes, TB/AIDS, tetanus, rabies and injuries.
How robust are district health systems? Coping with crisis and disasters in Rutshuru, Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Porignon Denis , Porignon Denis , Mugisho Soron‘Gane Etienne , Elongo Lokombe Tarcisse , Katulanya Isu Déogratias , Philippe Hennart  , Van Lerberghe Wim 
Published: October 2010

background Since the eighties, the North Kivu Province socio‐economic environment has been deteriorating. This province also faced an influx of Rwandan refugees in July 1994. The objective of the paper is to show how a rural health district has been able to adjust and maintain its medical activities under unfavourable conditions. method Performances of the local health system were assessed through the analysis of routine medical data collected in the Rutshuru Health District (RHD) between 1985 and 1995. Specific data collected during the Rwandan refugee crisis measured the workload of RHD due to the refugees. results For 11 years, health infrastructures have remained accessible and functional in RHD. The curative utilization and preventive coverage rates increased. Obstetrical activities were intensified from a quantitative as well as from a qualitative point of view. Between July and October 1994, the RHD treated 65 000 cases of various pathological conditions in Rwandan refugees settled outside the camps. This corresponds to 9.3% of consultations for Rwandan refugees settled on RHD's territory and represents a 400% increase in the curative workload for the RHD health services. Human and financial resources remained at a very low level, especially when compared with those available in the camps through relief agencies. conclusion The RHD was severely affected by various stresses but its services managed to provide significant and efficient response to these crises. Health district systems may constitute an effective tool to provide health care under adverse conditions.
Distribution and importance.
Authors: Robinson J. C. , Galán Saúco V. 
Published: October 2010

Abstract

This chapter discusses the origin, early and present distribution of bananas and plantains (Musa). The main banana-producing countries are presented, which are classified (according to world production and trade) into four large groups, namely the dollar area, ACP countries (referring to the 48 African, Caribbean and Pacific countries), EU producers and other producing countries. The main banana markets, i.e. the markets for tropical export bananas, for subtropical local production, for local trade and staple diets, and for processing, are described. Some factors influencing world trade, including political, environmental, social and quarantine issues, as well as climatic disasters, are discussed.