bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of Serum Carbohydrate‐Deficient Transferrin Values to Exclude Alcoholic Hepatitis from Non‐Alcoholic Steatohepatitis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Ohtsuka Toshimi , Tsutsumi Mikihiro , Fukumura Atsushi , Tsuchishima Mutsumi , Takase Shujiro 
Published: November 2010

Abstract:Background:Since no clinical or biochemical parameters allow an accurate diagnosis of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), the diagnosis by exclusion of alcoholic hepatitis is necessary. However, it is difficult to get the accurate amount of alcohol consumed from the patients, especially from females. To differentiate between NASH and alcoholic hepatitis, we investigated whether serum biochemical markers of chronic alcohol abuse are useful or not.Methods:Sera were obtained from 13 patients with NASH and 26 patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Diagnoses in these patients were confirmed histologically by needle biopsy of the liver. All patients with alcoholic hepatitis consumed more than 80 g of ethanol/day for more than 10 years. As markers of chronic alcohol abuse, serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), hyaluronate, mean corpuscular volume of red blood cells (MCV) and carbohydrate‐deficient transferrin (CDT) were measured.Results:Among alcohol markers, serum values of AST, AST/ALT ratio, GGT, CDT and MCV in patients with alcoholic hepatitis were significantly higher than those in patients with NASH, respectively. However, serum values of these markers, except for CDT, were overlapped in many cases of NASH and alcoholic hepatitis. Serum CDT values of all patients with NASH were lower than the cutoff value, 2.66%, and those of all patients with alcoholic hepatitis were higher than the cutoff value.Conclusion:The results of the present study suggest that serum CDT level could be used to differentiate between NASH and alcoholic hepatitis.
AICAR, an AMPK Activator, Has Protective Effects on Alcohol‐Induced Fatty Liver in Rats
Authors: Tomita Kengo , Tamiya Gen , Ando Satoshi , Kitamura Naoto , Koizumi Haruna , Kato Shinzo , Horie Yoshinori , Kaneko Takehiko , Azuma Toshifumi , Nagata Hiroshi , Ishii Hiromasa , Hibi Toshifumi 
Published: November 2010

Abstract: Background: Previous work with metformin has shown that this antidiabetic agent improves nonalcoholic fatty liver in ob/ob mice. AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is one of the major cellular regulators of lipid and glucose metabolism, and reportedly mediates the beneficial metabolic effects of metformin. In this study, we examined the effects of 5‐aminoimidazole‐4‐carboxamide‐1‐β‐D‐ribofuranoside (AICAR), an AMPK activator, on an experimental model of ethanol‐induced hepatic steatosis.Methods: Rats were randomly divided into three groups: (A) rats fed ethanol‐containing liquid diet for six weeks; (B) rats pair‐fed ethanol‐containing liquid diet for six weeks, during the last three weeks of which they were subcutaneously injected with 0.5 mg AICAR/g body weight per day; (C) rats pair‐fed isocaloric liquid diet without ethanol for six weeks. At the end of the six‐week period, the animals were sacrificed. Serum and liver specimens were analyzed using biochemical and histologic methods, as well as real‐time PCR.Results: Chronic ethanol feeding resulted in fatty liver both histologically and biochemically, whereas AICAR administration attenuated the degree of change in the liver. AICAR also decreased the hepatic sterol regulatory factor binding protein‐1c (SREBP‐1c) and reduced fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression; these changes led to reduced triglyceride synthesis in rat livers. Furthermore, detection of 4‐hydroxy‐2‐nonenal (4‐HNE)‐protein adducts showed that the AICAR treatment also decreased the products of lipid peroxidation.Conclusion: In this preclinical rat model, AICAR, an AMPK activator, appears to protect the liver from fatty changes associated with chronic alcohol use. As such, AICAR may have a role in the treatment and prevention of alcohol‐induced fatty liver.
Effects of Acute Ethanol Administration on LPS‐Induced Expression of Cyclooxygenase‐2 and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in Rat Alveolar Macrophages
Authors: Kato Hirohisa , Negoro Munetaka , Wakabayashi Ichiro 
Published: November 2010

Abstract:Background:Activation of alveolar macrophages acts as a primary defense mechanism of lung with immunologic and inflammatory processes. Incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has been reported to be higher in alcoholics than that in nonalcoholics. Both cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) are induced by inflammatory stimuli such as LPS and cytokines and are involved in host defense. COX‐2 and iNOS have been reported to play important roles in pathophysiology of ARDS. The aim of the present study was to elucidate whether acute ethanol administration to rats affects on COX‐2 and iNOS expression in isolated alveolar macrophages.Methods:Ethanol (4.5 g per kg body weight as a 20% solution) was intraperitoneally injected to male Wistar rats. At 2.5 hrs after the injection, alveolar macrophages were collected from rats by bronchoalveolar lavage and were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 μg/ml). Expression of COX‐2 and iNOS and activation of MAPKs was evaluated by Western blotting.Results:In alveolar macrophages isolated from ethanol‐treated rats, LPS‐stimulated production of both prostaglandin E2and nitrite was significantly lower than that in macrophages isolated from vehicle‐treated control rats. LPS‐induced expression of both COX‐2 and iNOS was significantly lower in macrophages from ethanol‐treated rats than that in macrophages from the control rats, while expression of β‐actin was not different in these groups. LPS increased phosphorylation of both extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase (ERK) and p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK). The levels of phosphorylated ERK and p38 were significantly lower in macrophages from ethanol‐treated rats compared with those from the control rats. Treatment of macrophages with ethanol (100 – 400 mM)in vitrosignificantly inhibited expression of COX‐2 in a concentration‐dependent manner, while only a high concentration (400 mM) of ethanol significantly inhibited expression of iNOS. Ethanol also inhibited COX‐2 expression in the presence of Tiron. Expression of COX‐2 and iNOS was significantly inhibited by U0126 but not by SB203580.Conclusion:In rat alveolar macrophages, LPS‐induced expression of COX‐2 and iNOS is mediated by ERK MAPK but not by p38 MAPK. Acute ethanol administration to rats attenuates induction of both COX‐2 and iNOS in alveolar macrophages by inhibiting phosphorylation of ERK.
Allergic contact dermatitis due to diclofenac sodium in eye drops
Authors: MIYAZATO Hitona , YAMAGUCHI Sayaka , TAIRA Kiyohito , ASATO Yutaka , YAMAMOTO Yu‐Ichi , HAGIWARA Keisuke , UEZATO Hiroshi 
Published: November 2010

AbstractEyelid dermatitis and/or periocular dermatitis (ED/PD) is commonly seen in a variety of skin diseases such as seborrheic dermatitis, atopic dermatitis and psoriasis, but is most often associated with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Here, a case of ACD in an 82‐year‐old man is described; he used 0.1% diclofenac sodium eye drops and exhibited pruritic erythema on the eyelids. Patch test for diclofenac sodium eye drops was positive. Further patch tests revealed a positive reaction to diclofenac sodium (monosodium 2‐[2, 6‐dichlorophenylamino] phenylacetate), which was the main component in the eye drop medicine. Diclofenac sodium is a non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug (NSAID), and is frequently used in everyday oral medications, topical ointments, gel agents and eye drops. Case reports on ACD caused by diclofenac sodium eye drops are extremely rare. Nevertheless, it is necessary to consider ACD due to diclofenac sodium when a patient with ED/PD has a history of use of diclofenac sodium eye drops.
Sorafenib‐associated hand–foot syndrome in Japanese patients
Authors: IIJIMA Masafumi , FUKINO Koichi , ADACHI Masatoshi , TSUKAMOTO Taiji , MURAI Masaru , NAITO Seiji , MINAMI Hironobu , FURUSE Junji , AKAZA Hideyuki 
Published: November 2010

AbstractSorafenib (Nexavar) is an oral multi‐kinase inhibitor that targets tumor growth and angiogenesis, having encouraging efficacy and tolerability in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and other tumors. However, hand–foot syndrome (HFS), a frequently reported adverse event under sorafenib treatment, sometimes causes interruption of the treatment or dose reduction. This study was conducted to review sorafenib‐associated HSF in Japanese patients, to facilitate improvement of the management of HFS in clinical practice. We reviewed the combined results on HFS in three sorafenib studies in Japanese patients: (A) a phase II study of metastatic renal cell carcinoma; (B) a phase I study of solid tumor; and (C), phase I study of hepatocellular carcinoma. Severity of HFS was graded as 1–3 based on the modified grading scale of National Cancer Institute – Common Toxicity Criteria version 2.0 and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. A total of 189 patients were included for analyses. The incidence of all‐grade HFS was 51% (55% in A, 39% in B and 44% in C), and the incidence of grade 3 HFS was 7% (9% in A, 0% in B and 7% in C). Incidence of HFS seemed dose‐dependent. These events were observed within 3–9 weeks after initiation of sorafenib treatment. The majority of HFS was manageable with symptomatic treatment and HFS caused permanent discontinuation of sorafenib in only one patient (in study A). The incidence of sorafenib‐associated HFS is high compared to other adverse events. However, the present analyses showed that HFS under sorafenib treatment is well manageable in Japanese patients.
An exploration of spiritual needs of Taiwanese patients with advanced cancer during the therapeutic processes
Authors: Hsiao Szu‐Mei , Gau Meei‐Ling , Ingleton Christine , Ryan Tony , Shih Fu‐Jin 
Published: November 2010

Aims and objectives.  This study explores the spiritual needs of patients with advanced cancer during their therapeutic process in Taiwan and analyses the influence of Chinese culture in addressing their spiritual needs.Background.  Many nurse clinicians have concerns about the difficulties of providing spiritual care for ethnic‐Chinese cancer clients within their cultural context, possibly as a result of lack of knowledge and training. There has been little research exploring the potential impact of Chinese cultural values on the spiritual needs of patients with advanced cancer.Design.  Explorative qualitative enquiry was used.Methods.  Data were collected through participant observation and in‐depth face‐to‐face interviews. Transcribed interview data were analysed by using qualitative content analysis. The purposive sample (n = 33) was drawn from a leading medical center (n = 19) with 3000 beds in the capital and a community‐based rural teaching hospital (n = 14) with 581 beds in Taiwan.Results.  Four spiritual needs emerged from the analysis: the need to foster hope for survival and obtain a peaceful mindset, to fulfil the meanings of life and preserve one’s dignity, to experience more reciprocal human love and finally, to receive assistance in facing death peacefully.Conclusion.  This research has shown that patients with advanced cancer need caregivers, friends and the help of their religion to meet their spiritual needs during the therapeutic processes.Relevance to clinical practice.  The findings of this study could assist health professionals to detect the unmet spiritual needs of ethnic‐Chinese patients with cancer in the context of their cultural or religious background as early as possible.
A systematic review of the effectiveness of problem‐solving approaches towards symptom management in cancer care
Authors: Lee Yun‐Hsiang , Chiou Piao‐Yi , Chang Pi‐Hua , Hayter Mark 
Published: November 2010

Aims.  To investigate the evidence of problem‐solving approach interventions on symptom management in cancer care.Background.  Symptom‐related problems are a common challenge in cancer care. The problem‐solving approach is one strategy of cognitive behavioural therapy used to help patients with cancer self‐manage their symptoms. However, no systematic review has investigated the effectiveness of this approach.Design.  Systematic review.Method.  A systematic search for intervention studies using randomised controlled designs, controlled clinical trial and quasi‐experimental studies designs was conducted using the following electronic databases: EBSCO host, CINAHL (1991–2008), Medline (1975–2009), Electronic Periodical Services (Chinese) and Electronic Theses and Dissertations System (Taiwan).Results.  Seven studies published in English between 1975–2009 were included in this systematic review. All studies were randomly assigned and almost all studies demonstrated the positive effects of a problem‐solving approach in reducing symptomatic problems in the target participants. Varying protocols and qualities of methodological design (14% good, 43% fair and 43% poor) were found in this review.Conclusions.  This systematic review highlighted the potential of a problem‐solving approach in the management of symptom problems in patients with cancer. However, more rigourous studies are needed and a better evaluation of the most effective problem‐solving approach protocols is required.Relevance to clinical practice.  Cancer care nurses should explore the use of problem‐solving approach interventions in their practice as the evidence base suggests the value of this approach – but caution is needed in regard to the precise structure of the problem‐solving approach protocol.
Viewpoint: Scientific dogmas, paradoxes and mysteries of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
Authors: Zumla Alimuddin , Atun Rifat , Maeurer Markus , Mwaba Peter , Ma Zhenkun , O’Grady Justin , Bates Matthew , Dheda Keertan , Hoelscher Michael , Grange John 
Published: November 2010

SummaryWorldwide, there are nearly 10 million new cases of active TB and 1.8 million associated deaths every year. WHO estimates that one‐third of the world’s population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), forming a huge latent Mtb global reservoir. This renders the prospect of ever eliminating Mtb from the human race almost impossible. Several controversial issues regarding host‐pathogen interactions and existing prevention and eradication strategies for latent Mtb infections need to be critically re‐examined. In this viewpoint, widely held assumptions on Mtb latency and isoniazid monotherapy and chemoprophylaxis are challenged. We highlight the need for future research to resolve these issues and to develop evidence‐based strategies for better understanding of equilibrium and escape of Mtb in the human body, eventually leading to global recommendations for elimination of the latent Mtb state through informed policy and practice. Until such strategies and policies are realized, WHO and TB experts will have to settle for global TB control rather than eradication.
Viewpoint: Why do we need a point‐of‐care CD4 test for low‐income countries?
Authors: Zachariah R. , Reid S. D. , Chaillet P. , Massaquoi M. , Schouten E. J. , Harries A. D. 
Published: November 2010

SummaryIn this paper, we discuss the reasons why we urgently need a point‐of‐care (POC) CD4 test, elaborate the problems we have experienced with the current technology which hampers CD4‐count coverage and highlight the ideal characteristics of a universal CD4 POC test. It is high‐time that CD4 technology is simplified and adapted for wider use in low‐income countries to change the current paradigm of restricted access once and for all.
Living donor evaluation and exclusion: the Stanford experience
Authors: Lapasia Jessica B. , Kong Soo‐yee , Busque Stephan , Scandling John D. , Chertow Glenn M. , Tan Jane C. 
Published: November 2010

Lapasia JB, Kong S‐Y, Busque S, Scandling JD, Chertow GM, Tan JC. Living donor evaluation and exclusion: the Stanford experience.  Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 697–704. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  Background:  The proportion of prospective living donors disqualified for medical reasons is unknown. The objective of this study is to delineate and quantify specific reasons for exclusion of prospective living donors from kidney donation.Methods:  All adult prospective kidney donors who contacted our transplant program between October 1, 2007 and April 1, 2009 were included in our analysis (n = 484). Data were collected by review of an electronic transplant database.Results:  Of the 484 prospective donors, 39 (8%) successfully donated, 229 (47%) were excluded, 104 (22%) were actively undergoing evaluation, and 112 (23%) were withdrawn before evaluation was complete. Criteria for exclusion were medical (n = 150), psychosocial (n = 22), or histocompatibility (n = 57) reasons. Of the 150 prospective donors excluded for medical reasons, 79% were excluded because of obesity, hypertension, nephrolithiasis, and/or abnormal glucose tolerance. One hundred and forty‐seven (61%) intended recipients had only one prospective living donor, of whom 63 (42%) were excluded.Conclusions:  A significant proportion of prospective living kidney donors were excluded for medical reasons such as obesity (body mass index >30), hypertension, nephrolithiasis, and abnormal glucose tolerance. Longer‐term studies are needed to characterize the risks to medically complex kidney donors and the potential risks and benefits afforded to recipients.
Comparison between psychosocial long‐term outcomes of recipients and donors after adult‐to‐adult living donor liver transplantation
Authors: Noma Shun’ichi , Hayashi Akiko , Uehara Minako , Uemoto Shinji , Murai Toshiya 
Published: November 2010

Noma S, Hayashi A, Uehara M, Uemoto S, Murai T. Comparison between psychosocial long‐term outcomes of recipients and donors after adult‐to‐adult living donor liver transplantation. Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 714–720. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine psychosocial states of recipients and donors several years after living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and to find out the pre‐transplant predictors of desirable post‐transplant psychosocial states. The recipients and donors of adult‐to‐adult LDLT at Kyoto University Hospital, Japan, from November 2001 through July 2003 were interviewed and examined by means of questionnaires about anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QOL), and the participants were evaluated by the same test batteries sent by mail three to five yr after LDLT. Twenty‐seven pairs of recipients and donors, 13 recipients, and three donors participated in this study. The recipients and the donors had a decline in social QOL. The main predictor of psychosocial states of the recipients was the length of wait for LDLT, and the predictors of the donors were family or support system availability and recipients’ depressive states at LDLT. The donors who were spouses of the recipients had better QOL than other donors. It might be better to perform LDLT as soon as possible once LDLT has been judged to be necessary, and the relative who is on close terms with the recipient should be selected as donor.
Good to the bone: microbial community thrives within bone cavities of a bison carcass at Yellowstone National Park
Authors: Reeb Valérie , Kolel Avraham , McDermott Timothy R. , Bhattacharya Debashish 
Published: November 2010

SummaryThe discovery of unanticipated microbial diversity in remote, often hostile environments has led to a greater appreciation of the complexity and richness of the natural world. Yellowstone National Park (YNP) has long been a focus of work on taxa that inhabit extreme environments. Here we report the finding of microbial flora that inhabit an unexpected niche: the cavities of bone remnants from a bison carcass in Norris Geyser Basin in YNP. Although bleached white on the surface, the bone cavities are bright green due to the presence of Stichococcus‐like trebouxiophyte green algae. The cavities also harbour different fungi and bacteria. Stichococcus species are common lichen photobionts and the Thelebolales fungi present in the bone cavities have previously been found in association with animal remains. Scanning electron microscope analysis suggests the fungi and algae do not form lichen‐like associations in the bone. Rather these taxa and the bacteria appear to be opportunists that have colonized an isolated oasis that provides nutrients and protection from desiccation and UV radiation.
Hybrid recommendations for mobile commerce based on mobile phone features
Authors: Liou Chuen‐He , Liu Duen‐Ren 
Published: November 2010

AbstractMobile data communications have evolved as the number of third generation (3G) subscribers has increased. The evolution has triggered an increase in the use of mobile devices, such as mobile phones, to conduct mobile commerce and mobile shopping on the mobile web. There are fewer products to browse on the mobile web; hence, one‐to‐one marketing with product recommendations is important. Typical collaborative filtering (CF) recommendation systems make recommendations to potential customers based on the purchase behaviour of customers with similar preferences. However, this method may suffer from the so‐called sparsity problem, which means there may not be sufficient similar users because the user‐item rating matrix is sparse. In mobile shopping environments, the features of users' mobile phones provide different functionalities for using mobile services; thus, the features may be used to identify users with similar purchase behaviour. In this paper, we propose a mobile phone feature (MPF)‐based hybrid method to resolve the sparsity issue of the typical CF method in mobile environments. We use the features of mobile phones to identify users' characteristics and then cluster users into groups with similar interests. The hybrid method combines the MPF‐based method and a preference‐based method that uses association rule mining to extract recommendation rules from user groups and make recommendations. Our experiment results show that the proposed hybrid method performs better than other recommendation methods.
From sending to host societies: immigration in Greece, Ireland and Spain in the 21st century
Authors: Muñoz de Bustillo Rafael , Antón José Ignacio 
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACTIn a relatively short period of time, new immigration patterns have changed the geography of immigration of the EU15, bringing three old emigration countries, Ireland, Spain and Greece, to the forefront of the new immigration wave. This article studies the analogies and differences of the recent immigration experience of this group of countries, focusing on the demographic characteristics of the immigrants (origin, sex, gender and education), labour market insertion (wages, labour market segregation and quality of matching) and overall economic performance in terms of poverty rates.
Herpes zoster, odontalgia and nephropathy: a case report and review
Authors: Pattni N. , Hudson P. , Yates J.M. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractHerpes zoster is an uncommon acute viral infection caused by reactivation of varicella‐zoster virus. Presented is a case of herpes zoster involving the trigeminal nerve masquerading as odontalgia. The difficulties in diagnosis and management are discussed.