bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sonography and Computed Tomography in Hepatic Haemangioma
Authors: Bondestam S. , Somer K. , Hekali P. , Takkunen H. 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT. Seven patients suffering from hepatic haemangioma were investigated by sonography and computed whole‐body tomography (CT). In addition, percutaneous fine‐needle biopsy was performed in 3 cases. All the patients had typical angiographic features of hepatic haemangioma. Histological confirmation was obtained in five cases.Sonography showed lesions of sonodense and mixed predominant sonolucent features. CT showed typical peripheral post‐contrast enhancement. Fine needle biopsy was successful and diagnostic in two cases. No complications occurred with the procedure. Sonography overlooked one tiny lesion, and CT two. It seems that sonographic appearances are not reliable in the diagnosis of hepatic haemangioma, though CT may be diagnostic. In doubtful situations other diagnostic procedures, such as angiography and/or fine‐needle biopsy, may be necessary.
Antacid Treatment of Duodenal Ulcer
Authors: BECKER ULRIK , LINDORFF KAREN , ANDERSEN CARSTEN , RANLØV POUL JØRGEN 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACT. Becker U, Lindorff K, Andersen C, Ranløv PJ (Department of Internal Medicine B, Central Hospital, Hillerød, Denmark). Antacid treatment of duodenal ulcer. Acta Med Scand 1987; 221:95–101.Sixty‐seven consecutive outpatients with endoscopically verified duodenal ulcer were randomised to a double‐blind treatment with either 10 ml of an antacid suspension (buffering capacity 85 mmol/10 ml, packed in single dosage pads) 1 and 3 h after each meal and at bedtime or cimetidine 400 mg b.i.d. The double‐dummy technique was employed. Endoscopy was performed after 4 weeks treatment and, if the ulcer had not healed, after 8 weeks treatment. When ulcer healing had occurred, the patient entered a 1 year follow‐up study. The cumulative healing rates after 4 and 8 weeks treatment were 83 and 97% vs. 69 and 94% in the antacid and cimetidine groups respectively. No significant differences were observed between the treatment groups regarding ulcer healing, symptom relief or compliance. Adverse reactions were few and only 3 (9%) patients in the antacid group had to discontinue the treatment due to diarrhoea. Of the cimetidine treated patients, 61% had symptomatic relapse during the 1 year follow‐up compared to 71% of the antacid treated patients. There were no significant differences in recurrence rate or time to relapse. The moderate dose antacid treatment used here is efficient, well tolerated, safe, convenient and is a good alternative treatment of the duodenal ulcer patient.
Credibility Assessments of Online Health Information: the Effects of Source Expertise and Knowledge of Content
Authors: Eastin Matthew S. 
Published: August 2010

Abstract
Millions of Americans use the Internet as a resource for information, with a large proportion seeking health information. Research indicates that medical professionals do not author an extensive amount of health information available on the Internet. This creates a possibility for false information, thereby potentially leading ill people away from proper care. One way to begin addressing this problem is to assess perceptions of credibility about information found online. A between-groups, 2 (message type) × 3 (source type) factorial design was tested by manipulating source expertise (high, medium, low) and content knowledge (known and unknown). While findings did not indicate a significant interaction between source and content type, they did indicate an overall tendency to rate all information as relatively credible. In addition, results indicate that both knowledge of content and source expertise affect perceptions of online health information.
Sex steroids and mortality in men referred for coronary angiography
Authors: Wehr E. , Pilz S. , Boehm B. O. , März W. , Grammer T. B. , Obermayer‐Pietsch B. 
Published: August 2010

SummaryObjective  Accumulating evidence suggests that sex steroids are associated with various chronic diseases. We aimed at evaluating whether total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT) and sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG) are associated with all‐cause mortality and specific fatal events.Design, Setting and Participants  We measured TT and SHBG levels in 2078 men who were routinely referred for coronary angiography (1997–2000). FT was calculated according to Vermeulen.Measurements  The main outcome measures were Cox proportional hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality from all causes, from cardiovascular and non‐cardiovascular causes and from cancer according to SHBG, FT and TT.Results  Multivariable‐adjusted HRs (with 95% confidence intervals) in the fourth compared to the first SHBG quartile for all‐cause, non‐cardiovascular and cancer mortality were 1·61 (1·16–2·23), 2·44 (1·39–4·28), and 2·86 (1·03–7·32), respectively. There was no significant association of SHBG levels with cardiovascular mortality. All‐cause mortality was significantly reduced per 1 SD increase in FT in the multivariate‐adjusted analyses [0·49 (0·30–0·81)]. We observed no significant associations of FT with cardiovascular and cancer mortality, and TT levels were not independently related to any fatal events.Conclusion  High levels of SHBG are associated with adverse health outcomes in a large cohort of older men referred for coronary angiography. Further studies are warranted to confirm our results and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms for our findings.
Climate change and range expansion of an aggressive bark beetle: evidence of higher beetle reproduction in naïve host tree populations
Authors: Cudmore Timothy J. , Björklund Niklas , Carroll Allan L. , Staffan Lindgren B. 
Published: August 2010

Summary1. Hosts may evolve defences that make them less susceptible and suitable to herbivores impacting their fitness. Due to climate change‐driven range expansion, herbivores are encountering naïve host populations with increasing frequency.2. Aggressive bark beetles are among the most important agents of disturbance in coniferous forest ecosystems. The presence of bark beetle outbreaks in areas with a historically unsuitable climate, in part a consequence of climate change, provided an opportunity to assess the hypothesis that the mountain pine beetleDendroctonus ponderosaehas higher reproductive success in lodgepole pinePinus contortatrees growing in areas that have not previously experienced frequent outbreaks.3. We felled and sampled mountain pine beetle‐killed trees from historically climatically suitable and unsuitable areas, i.e. areas with and without a historical probability of frequent outbreaks. Reproductive success was determined from a total of 166 trees from 14 stands.4. Brood productivity was significantly affected by climatic suitability class, such that mean brood production per female increased as historical climatic suitability decreased.5. Synthesis and applications.The current study demonstrates that the mountain pine beetle has higher reproductive success in areas where its host trees have not experienced frequent beetle epidemics, which includes much of the current outbreak area in north central British Columbia. This increased productivity of mountain pine beetle is likely to have been a key reason for the rapid population buildup that resulted in unprecedented host tree mortality over huge areas in western Canada. The outbreak thus provides an example of how climate change‐driven range expansion of native forest insects can have potentially disastrous consequences. Since an increased reproductive success is likely to accelerate the progression of outbreaks, it is particularly critical to manage forests for the maintenance of a mosaic of species and age classes at the landscape level in areas where host tree populations are naïve to eruptive herbivores.
Five‐year follow‐up study of adolescents with intact and restored dentitions: personality traits
Authors: KAMPE T. , EDMAN G. , HANNERZ H. 
Published: August 2010

SummaryThe personality traits of 66 of a sample of 70 adolescents aged 19–21 years were reexamined after 5 years by means of a personality inventory (KSP). A total of 15 subjects had intact dentitions (group I), while 13 subjects had had some fillings in their teeth since the first examination (group FI), and 38 subjects had restored dentitions at both examinations (group F).The findings of this study are in agreement with those of the earlier study of Kampe, Edman and Molin (1986). On both occasions the subjects with restored dentitions had higher scores on the Somatic Anxiety and Muscular Tension scales. The differences were more pronounced for the female subjects. With regard to muscular tension, there was a significant interactive effect, with higher values for the female subjects in group F. Individuals with high scores for the Clinical Dysfunction Index (DiII and DiIII) also had the highest scores on the Somatic Anxiety and Muscular Tension scales, thus confirming the validity of the muscle palpation.The hypothesis of a correlation between personality factors and dental‐filling therapy was neither accepted nor rejected. The subjects in group F had the highest scores on both occasions on the Somatic Anxiety and Muscular Tension scales, although the subjects in group FI had the lowest scores. Further studies are required, and another 5‐year follow‐up study of this material could be conclusive.
Repair of glass ionomer cements — methods for conditioning the surface of the cement to achieve bonding
Authors: JAMALUDDIN A. , PEARSON G. J. 
Published: August 2010

SummaryTwo chemically different glass ionomer cements (Ketac Fil® and ChemFil II® Caps) and three different methods of conditioning the surface for repair were evaluated. Specimens of each material were prepared, aged and sectioned. The cut surfaces were treated with either phosphoric acid, polyacrylic acid or a combination of phosphoric acid followed by polyacrylic acid. Freshly mixed glass ionomer cement was injected against the treated surface and allowed to set under simulated intra‐oral conditions. The specimens were then tested to failure in flexion after 7 days storage. The flexural strength of the repaired specimens was compared with that of control specimens of the same materials. The flexural strength of the repaired specimens was less than that of the controls. Treatment of the fractured surface with polyacrylic acid produced the weakest repair, and the use of phosphoric acid as the conditioning agent produced repaired specimens approximately 80% of the strength of the controls.
Fatal sequel to dental implant surgery
Authors: GIRDLER N.M. 
Published: August 2010

SummaryThe rare complication of fatal venous air embolism arising as a direct result of dental implant surgery in the mandible is depicted. The deaths arose from the erroneous use of an air/water coolant mixture with internally irrigated implant drills. The pathogenesis and consequence of air embolism is discussed. Practitioners are warned about the dangers of using air‐driven equipment during implant surgery.
Vaccination of mice with chitosan nanogel‐associated recombinant NcPDI against challenge infection withNeospora caninumtachyzoites
Authors: DEBACHE K. , KROPF C. , SCHÜTZ C. A. , HARWOOD L. J. , KÄUPER P. , MONNEY T. , ROSSI N. , LAUE C. , McCULLOUGH K. C. , HEMPHILL A. 
Published: August 2010

SummaryThe effects of nanogel encapsulation of recombinant NcPDI (recNcPDI) following vaccination of mice by intranasal or intraperitoneal routes and challenge infection withNeospora caninumtachyzoites were investigated. Nanogels were chitosan based, with an alginate or alginate‐mannose surface. None of the mice receiving recNcPDI intraperitoneal (i.p.) (without nanogels) survived, whereas intranasal (i.n.) application protected 9 of 10 mice from disease. Association of recNcPDI with nanogels improved survival of i.p. vaccinated mice, but nanogels without recNcPDI gave similar protection levels. When nanogels were inoculated via the i.n. route, 80% of the mice were protected. Association of recNcPDI with the alginate‐coated nanogels protected all mice against disease. Quantification of the cerebral parasite burden showed a significant reduction of parasite numbers in most experimental groups vaccinated i.n., except those vaccinated with alginate‐mannose nanogels with or without recNcPDI. For i.p. vaccinated groups, no significant differences in cerebral infection densities were measured, but there was a reduction in the groups vaccinated with recNcPDI associated with both types of nanogels. Analysis of the immune responses of infected mice indicated that association of recNcPDI with nanogels altered the patterns of cytokine mRNA expression profiles, but had no major impact on the antibody subtype responses. Nevertheless, this did not necessarily relate to the protection.
Phloem‐derived γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) is involved in upregulating nodule N2 fixation efficiency in the model legume Medicago truncatula
Authors: SULIEMAN SAAD , SCHULZE JOACHIM 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTNitrogen fixation in legumes is downregulated through a whole plant N feedback mechanism, for example, when under stress. This mechanism is probably triggered by the impact of shoot‐borne, phloem‐delivered compounds. However, little is known about any whole‐plant mechanism that might upregulate nitrogen fixation, for example, under N deficiency. We induced emerging N‐deficiency through partial excision of nodules from Medicago truncatula plants. Subsequently, the activity and composition of the remaining nodules and shifts in concentration of free amides/amino acids in the phloem were monitored. Furthermore, we mimicked these shifts through artificial feeding of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) into the phloem of undisturbed plants. As a result of increased specific activity of nodules, N2 fixation per plant recovered almost completely 4–5 d after excision. The concentration of amino acids, sugars and organic acids increased strongly in the upregulated nodules. A concomitant analysis of the phloem revealed a significant increase in GABA concentration. Comparable with the effect of nodule excision, artificial GABA feeding into the phloem resulted in an increased activity and higher concentration of amino acids and organic acids in nodules. It is concluded that GABA might be involved in upregulating nodule activity, possibly because of its constituting part of a putative amino acid cycle between bacteroids and the cytosol.
Use of gaseous 13NH3 administered to intact leaves of Nicotiana tabacum to study changes in nitrogen utilization during defence induction
Authors: HANIK NILS , GÓMEZ SARA , SCHUELLER MICHAEL , ORIANS COLIN M. , FERRIERI RICHARD A. 
Published: August 2010

ABSTRACTNitrogen‐13 (t1/2 9.97 m), a radioactive isotope of nitrogen, offers unique opportunities to explore plant nitrogen utilization over short time periods. Here we describe a method for administering 13N as gaseous 13NH3 to intact leaves of Nicotiana tabacum L. (cv Samsun), and measuring the labelled amino acids using radio high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on tissue extract. We used this method to study the effects of defence induction on plant nitrogen utilization by applying treatments of methyl jasmonate (MeJA), a potent defence elicitor. MeJA caused a significant increase relative to controls in key [13N]amino acids, including serine, glycine and alanine by 4 h post‐treatment, yet had no effect on 13NH3 incorporation, a process that is primarily under the control of the glutamine synthatase/glutamate synthase pathway (GS/GOGAT) in cellular photorespiration. We suggest that the reconfiguration of nitrogen metabolism may reflect induction of non‐photorespiratory sources of nitrogen to better serve the plant's defences.
Expression of Human TIM‐1 and TIM‐3 on Lymphocytes from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients
Authors: Wang Y. , Meng J. , Wang X. , Liu S. , Shu Q. , Gao L. , Ju Y. , Zhang L. , Sun W. , Ma C. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe T‐cell immunoglobulin‐ and mucin‐domain‐containing molecules (TIMs) comprise a new family of cell surface molecules expressed on T cells. TIM‐3 is expressed on T helper type 1 (Th1) cells and implicated in the pathogenesis of Th1‐driven auto‐ and allo‐immune diseases. TIM‐1 is suggested to act as a co‐stimulatory molecule for all T cells, but with potentially stronger effects on Th2 than Th1 cells and is associated with Th2‐related immune diseases. However, the TIM molecules have not been investigated in the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, we examined the expression of TIM‐1 and TIM‐3 on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from SLE patients using quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR. An increased TIM‐1 expression was detected in SLE patients, which correlates with interleukin‐10 expression. We also found that there was a significant increase in the expression of TIM‐1 in SLE patients with quite active disease (SLE disease activity index > 6), indicating that TIM‐1 expression might be related to active clinical phases. In contrast, TIM‐3 expression remained normal in SLE patients with low statistical power (34.89%). However, the expression of TIM‐3 ligand, galectin‐9 increased in SLE patients indicating an enhanced engagement of TIM‐3 with its ligand in SLE, which may result in a decreased regulatory T‐cell function as shown by the decreased expression of FoxP3 and TGF‐β1 in SLE. These data suggest that TIM‐1 and TIM‐3/TIM‐3L are involved in the pathogenesis of SLE.
Circulating Surfactant Protein D is Decreased in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A 1‐year Prospective Study
Authors: Hoegh S. V. , Lindegaard H. M. , Sorensen G. L. , Høj A. , Bendixen C. , Junker P. , Holmskov U. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractInnate immune system abnormalities, e.g., mannan‐binding lectin (MBL) genotype variants, have been demonstrated to modify the disease course of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Surfactant protein D (SP‐D) shares important structural and functional properties with MBL suggesting that SP‐D may be an additional RA disease modifier. The Met11Thr polymorphism in the N‐terminal part of SP‐D is an important determinant for the SP‐D serum level, but this polymorphism is also essential to the function and assembly into oligomers. We aimed to compare the serum levels of SP‐D in a cohort of newly diagnosed untreated RA patients with healthy matched controls, and to investigate if there was an association to core measures of disease activity within the first year after disease onset. Secondly, we aimed to investigate whether the Met11Thr polymorphism was associated with RA. Serum SP‐D was significantly lower in DMARD naive RA patients compared with healthy controls (P = 0.016). Median SP‐D concentration at inclusion was 878 ng/ml (95% CI: 730–1033) and 1164 ng/ml (95% CI: 1093–1366) in RA patients and matched controls, respectively. SP‐D increased during Methotrexate treatment (P < 0.0001), and at 1‐year follow‐up median SP‐D was 1032 ng/ml (95% CI: 777–1255). SP‐D levels did not correlate with traditional disease activity measures. The Thr11/Thr11 genotype and the Thr11 allele tended to be more frequent in RA patients. In conclusion, the low serum level of SP‐D and the lack of correlation with traditional disease activity measures indicate that SP‐D reflects a distinctive aspect in the RA pathogenesis.
Inhibition of Serine‐Peptidase Activity Enhances the Generation of a Survivin‐Derived HLA‐A2‐Presented CTL Epitope in Colon‐Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Preta G. , Marescotti D. , Fortini C. , Carcoforo P. , Castelli C. , Masucci M. , Gavioli R. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractCytotoxic T lymphocytes eliminate tumor cells expressing antigenic peptides in the context of MHC‐I molecules. Peptides are generated during protein degradation by the proteasome and resulting products, surviving cytosolic amino‐peptidases activity, may be presented by MHC‐I molecules. The MHC‐I processing pathway is altered in a large number of malignancies and modulation of antigen generation is one strategy employed by cells to evade immune control. In this study we analyzed the generation and presentation of a survivin‐derived CTL epitope in HLA‐A2‐positive colon‐carcinoma cells. Although all cell lines expressed the anti‐apoptotic protein survivin, some tumors were poorly recognized by ELTLGEFLKL (ELT)‐specific CTL cultures. The expression of MHC‐I or TAP molecules was similar in all cell lines suggesting that tumors not recognized by CTLs may present defects in the generation of the ELT‐epitope which could be due either to lack of generation or to subsequent degradation of the epitope. The cells were analyzed for the expression and the activity of extra‐proteasomal peptidases. A significant overexpression and higher activity of TPPII was observed in colon‐carcinoma cells which are not killed by ELT‐specific CTLs, suggesting a possible role of TPPII in the degradation of the ELT‐epitope. To confirm the role of TPPII in the degradation of the ELT‐peptide, we showed that treatment of colon‐carcinoma cells with a TPPII inhibitor resulted in a dose‐dependent increased sensitivity to ELT‐specific CTLs. These results suggest that TPPII is involved in degradation of the ELT‐peptide, and its overexpression may contribute to the immune escape of colon‐carcinoma cells.
Retracted: Construction, Expression and Immunoassay Detection of Recombinant Plasmid Encoding Fusion Protein of Roman Chicken Complement C3d and Newcastle Disease Virus F gene
Authors: Liu D. , Niu Z.‐X. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractThe terminal degradation product (C3d) of mammalian complement component C3 plays an important role in modulation of the adaptive immune response through the interaction with complement receptor type 2 (CR2) on B cells. In this study, the gene fragment coding for the complement protein C3d (chC3d) from Roman chicken was cloned and expressed as a fusion protein for its application in the vaccine study of chicken, and for in vitro experiments. The chC3d fragment strengthened B‐cell responses when complexed with antigen. Three potential vaccine construct units were engineered to contain two, four and six copies of chC3d coding gene linked to the F gene of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an economically important pathogen of chicken that is classified as a list A contagious disease of poultry by the Office International des Epizooties. The cloned chC3d protein and different repeats of C3d proteins in addition to the F gene of NDV were generated separately in Escherichia coli and chicken embryo fibroblast cells with the help of expression vectors. All recombinant proteins were analysed by SDS‐PAGE and Western blotting. Analysis of the immunogenicity of different repeats of C3d revealed that chC3d had an enhancing effect on the immunogenicity of antigens, and that six or more repeats of C3d may be necessary for efficient enhancement of antigen‐specific immune responses. To date, published research into the adjuvant activities of C3d has been limited to experiments in mice, rabbits and cattle. The adjuvant properties of C3d have not been assessed in poultry using homologous C3d in association with antigens relevant to the target species. The Roman chicken C3d fusion proteins described in this study is the first report and will provide a basis for immunization trials in chicken, studies of receptor binding and cell activation of chicken lymphocytes, and investigations of new types of vaccines, including recombinant vaccines and DNA vaccines for future use against other pathogens in chicken.