bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How do we know when peanut and tree nut allergy have resolved, and how do we keep it resolved?
Authors: Byrne A. M. , Malka‐Rais J. , Burks A. W. , Fleischer D. M. 
Published: July 2010

SummaryOver the last two decades, the prevalence of peanut and tree nut allergy has increased throughout the western world. Adverse reactions to these foods account for over 50% of all deaths resulting from food‐related anaphylaxis. Until recently, evidence suggested that all peanut and tree nut allergy were permanent. It is now known that about 20% and 10%, respectively, of young patients outgrow peanut and tree nut allergies. Achieving tolerance is associated with increasing circulating T regulatory cells and reduced production of allergen‐specific IgE. Reliable predictors of resolution are not yet available. A direct correlation between skin test weal size and allergen‐specific IgE, at the time of diagnosis and likelihood of resolution, has been reported. Resolution of peanut or tree nut allergy cannot be determined conclusively by either allergen‐specific IgE analysis or by skin prick testing. Oral food challenge is the gold standard for determining resolution of food allergy. Food challenges should only be undertaken in a clinical setting fully equipped to deal with a potential severe adverse reaction. Approximately 8% of patients who outgrow peanut allergy may suffer a recurrence, but recurrent tree nut allergy has not been reported to date. Infrequent ingestion of peanut may be related to the re‐emergence of allergy. Induction of tolerance through oral immunotherapy or sublingual immunotherapy is now being actively studied, but remains experimental. Studies have reported short‐term desensitization to peanut, but ongoing follow‐up will determine whether tolerance is achieved long term. Cite this as: A. M. Byrne, J. Malka‐Rais, A. W. Burks and D. M. Fleischer, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 1303–1311.
Original article: Extraction of lipid from scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) viscera by enzyme‐assisted solvent and supercritical carbon dioxide methods
Authors: Zhou Da‐Yong , Zhu Bei‐Wei , Tong Lei , Wu Hai‐Tao , Qin Lei , Tan Hui , Chi Ya‐Li , Qu Jing‐Ya , Murata Yoshiyuki 
Published: July 2010

SummaryIn the present study, lipid was extracted from scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) viscera by using the enzyme‐assisted solvent method and the supercritical carbon dioxide (SC‐CO2) method. Soxhlet extraction with ethyl ether produced a yield of 23.7 ± 0.6 g of lipid 100 g−1 of dry matter. Enzyme‐assisted solvent extraction allowed recovering 60.6 ± 1.5% of P. yessoensis viscera lipid from the samples treated with papain, whereas a lipid recovery rate of 78.3 ± 0.6% was achieved by SC‐CO2 extraction. The lipid extracted was divided into the unsaponifiable fraction (sterol) and the saponifiable fraction (fatty acid) and analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Results indicated that the fatty acid composition and sterol composition for lipids extracted by different methods were slightly different. Eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were dominant polyunsaturated fatty acids accounting for 35–40% of the total fatty acid.
Bisphosphonate‐associated osteonecrosis of the jaw. Knowledge and attitudes of dentists and dental students: a preliminary study
Authors: López‐Jornet Pia , Camacho‐Alonso Fabio , Molina‐Miñano Francisco , Gomez‐Garcia Francisco 
Published: July 2010

AbstractObjective  The objective was to determine the knowledge of dentists and dental students of bisphosphates and osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) in the Autonomous Community of Murcia, Spain.Material and method  A structured questionnaire was elaborated on knowledge, attitude and practice regarding aspects of the aetiology, diagnosis and prevention of bisphosphonate‐associated ONJ. The questionnaire was administered to two groups: group I with 60 dental students and group II, 60 dentists with well‐established professional activity.Results  As regards the subjects’ knowledge of bisphosphonate‐associated osteonecrosis, 30 (50%) students and 41 (68.36%) dentists (P = 0.0041) had up to date knowledge. Most correctly identified risk factors involved. Only eight (13.33%) students and 20 (33.33%) dentists (P = 0.010) knew how to treat osteonecrosis once established.Conclusions  Training strategies need to be established as regards bisphosphonate‐associated ONJ.
Does systematically organized care improve outcomes for women with diabetes?
Authors: Lowe Julia , Byles Julie , Dolja‐Gore Xenia , Young Anne 
Published: July 2010

AbstractObjective  To investigate whether financial reimbursement for a bundle of diabetes care items self‐reported by general practitioners (GPs) leads to improved outcomes for women with diabetes.Methods  Longitudinal cohort study of women in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health aged 45–50 and 70–75 years when recruited in 1996.Outcomes  Short Form 36‐item (SF‐36), Medicare and pharmaceutical benefits costs 2002–2005, uptake of annual cycle of care for diabetes (ACC).Results  Annual cycle of care claims were identified for 23% of 388 mid‐age, and 40% of 616 older women with diabetes. ACC was not associated with statistically significantly higher costs in either group. Women for whom the GP had received an ACC fee were more likely to have been overweight, had more GP visits, more medications, and more ‘no cost’ visits. Unlike older women, mid‐age women for whom the GP had received an ACC fee were more likely to have difficulty managing on their income and tended to have worse physical and social function scores prior to the time the ACC was introduced and compared with other women with diabetes continued to have poorer scores at subsequent surveys.There was no association between ACC, co‐morbidities or country of birth. Women who developed diabetes after the first survey (incident cases) tended to have better SF‐36 health profile scores and lower costs than those who reported diabetes on the first survey (prevalent cases).Conclusions  General practitioners of women with diabetes, who have more health care encounters and poorer health‐related quality of life, have adopted ACC with little impact on the decline in quality of life of the women nor on health care costs.
Discharge management for patients in Flemish psychiatric hospitals
Authors: Desplenter Franciska , Laekeman Gert , Moons Philip , Simoens Steven 
Published: July 2010

AbstractRationale and aims  At the end of the 1990s, a case management service called ‘discharge management’ was implemented in Belgian psychiatric hospitals. This study aimed to describe the profile of patients receiving discharge management in Flemish psychiatric hospitals as well as to analyse the discharge management indicators of these hospitals on micro and meso level.Methods  Ten Flemish psychiatric hospitals participated. A descriptive analysis of the profile of patients receiving discharge management (gender, age, length of stay, family situation, assistance at home, living environment and Global Assessment of Functioning) and of the indicators of discharge management (screening, interdisciplinary patient file, interdisciplinary meeting, timely announcement of discharge date, transfer of discharge documents, readmission and institutionalization) were carried out.Results  Of the 1306 patients included in the database, one‐fourth received discharge management. In general, patients (54% were male) were about 45 years old, stayed for 55 days in hospital, were single and had no aid at home. Most of them came from and returned to their own home. On the micro level of discharge management, nearly all patients were screened and half of them were positively screened. Half of these patients received discharge management. Of the discharged patients who received discharge management (meso level), 13.5% were institutionalized after discharge, 37.6% had been previously admitted and 27.2% received discharge management during that previous admission. Differences between diagnostic groups occurred.Conclusion  Hospitals have made efforts to support and prepare patients for discharge, although a number of improvements are suggested for different indicators.
Hypoglycaemia with pioglitazone: analysis of data from the Prescription‐Event Monitoring study
Authors: Vlckova Veronika , Cornelius Victoria , Kasliwal Rachna , Wilton Lynda , Shakir Saad 
Published: July 2010

AbstractAims and objectives  To investigate the relationship between patients' characteristics, use of concomitant anti‐diabetic therapies and the incidence of hypoglycaemia, an acute complication of the treatment of diabetes mellitus reported by general practitioners (GPs) during the first 9 months of the treatment with pioglitazone.Methods  We used data collected for the Prescription‐Event Monitoring (PEM) study conducted by the Drug Safety Research Unit for patients prescribed pioglitazone between November 2000 and June 2001 by their GP in England. A Cox proportional‐hazards regression model was used to assess this relationship.Results  The original pioglitazone PEM cohort included 12 772 patients (mean age 60.9 years); 53% (6777) were male. A total of 77 patients experienced at least one hypoglycaemic episode (9.64 per 1000 patient‐years). Women were estimated to have twice the hazard of having a hypoglycaemic event compared with men [hazard ratio (HR) 2.05; confidence interval (CI) 1.24, 3.41]. Patients taking combination therapy with sulfonylurea or insulin were estimated to have approximately three and four times the hazard of having an event compared with those who were not taking these adjunctive therapies [HR = 3.11 (CI 1.64, 5.88); HR = 4.15 (CI 1.74, 9.91), respectively]. Patients treated with adjunctive metformin were 25% less likely to experience hypoglycaemia than those who did not take concomitant metformin (HR = 0.75; CI 0.44, 1.27).Conclusions  This study has shown that the treatment with pioglitazone was associated with a low incidence of hypoglycaemia. The factors possibly increasing the risk of hypoglycaemia were concomitant therapy with sulfonylurea or insulin and female gender.
New aspects of HbA1c as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in type 2 diabetes: an observational study from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR)
Authors: Eeg‐Olofsson K. , Cederholm J. , Nilsson P. M. , Zethelius B. , Svensson A.‐M. , Gudbjörnsdóttir S. , Eliasson B. 
Published: July 2010

Abstract.  Eeg‐Olofsson K, Cederholm J, Nilsson PM, Zethelius B, Svensson A‐M, Gudbjörnsdóttir S, Eliasson B (Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences/Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala; Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, University Hospital, Malmö; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences/Geriatrics, Uppsala University, Uppsala; and Center of Registers in Region Västra Götaland, Gothenburg, Sweden) New aspects of HbA1c as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in type 2 diabetes: an observational study from the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR). J Intern Med 2010; 268: 471–482.Aims.  To analyse the association between glycosylated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes in the Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR).Methods.  An observational study of 18 334 patients (age 30–79 years, previous CVD in 18%, baseline HbA1c 5.0–10.9%) who were followed for 6 years (mean 5.6 years) from 1997/1998 until 2003.Results.  Hazard ratios per 1% unit increase in baseline or updated mean HbA1c for fatal/nonfatal coronary heart disease (CHD), CVD and total mortality were 1.11–1.13, 1.10–1.11 and 1.09–1.10, respectively (all P < 0.001), adjusted for several risk factors and clinical characteristics in Cox regression. Adjusted 6‐year event rates increased with higher baseline or updated mean HbA1c with no J‐shaped risk curves, in all patients and also when subgrouping by shorter (mean 3 years) or longer (mean 14 years) diabetes duration, by presence or absence of previous CVD, or by treatment with oral hypoglycaemic agents (OHAs) or insulin. Risk reductions of 20% for CHD and 16% for CVD (P < 0.001) were found in patients with a baseline mean HbA1c of 6.5%, compared to those with a mean level of 7.5%. Compared to OHA‐treated patients, insulin‐treated patients had an increased risk of total mortality, due almost exclusively to an increased risk of non‐CVD mortality, and due less to a weakly significant increased risk of fatal CVD. HbA1c was not associated with non‐CVD mortality.Conclusions.  This observational study showed progressively increasing risks of CHD, CVD and total mortality with higher HbA1c, and no risk increase at low HbA1c levels even with longer diabetes duration, previous CVD or treatment with either insulin or OHAs. Patients achieving HbA1c <7% showed benefits for risk reduction.
Specificity of IgE antibodies to sequential epitopes of hen's egg ovomucoid as a marker for persistence of egg allergy
Authors: Järvinen K.‐M. , Beyer K. , Vila L. , Bardina L. , Mishoe M. , Sampson H. A. 
Published: July 2010

Background:  Approximately two‐thirds of egg‐allergic infants become tolerant within the first 5 years of life.Objective:  We sought (1) to compare the recognition of sequential (linear) and conformational binding sites of ovomucoid, ovalbumin and ovotransferrin, by IgE antibodies of children with persistent and transient egg allergy, (2) to identify immunodominant IgE‐and IgG‐binding epitopes of ovomucoid, and (3) to compare epitope‐specificity of IgE antibodies between patients with differing natural histories of egg allergy.Methods:  Using immunodot‐blots or ImmunoCAPs, IgE‐antibodies against conformational (native) and sequential (reduced and alkylated) egg proteins were determined at the time of clinical reactivity in patients who retained their allergy and in those who developed clinical tolerance. IgE‐ and IgG‐binding epitopes were mapped for ovomucoid using overlapping decapeptides on SPOTs membranes. Recognition of the major IgE‐binding epitopes were compared between patients with differing natural histories of egg allergy.Results:  The patients with long‐lasting egg allergy had a higher concentrations of IgE antibodies against sequential and native ovomucoid and ovalbumin than the children who subsequently gained tolerance (P < 0.01). Four major IgE‐binding epitopes were identified in ovomucoid at amino acid 1–10, 9–20, 47–56, and 113–124. IgE antibodies of all seven patients with persistent egg allergy recognized these epitopes whereas none of the 11 children who outgrew their egg allergy did so.Conclusions:  Patients with persistent egg allergy develop IgE antibodies against more sequential and conformational epitopes of ovomucoid and ovalbumin. The presence of serum IgE antibodies to specific sequential epitopes of ovomucoid may be used as a screening instrument for persistent egg allergy.
Putative association of a TLR9 promoter polymorphism with atopic eczema
Authors: Novak N. , Yu C.‐F. , Bussmann C. , Maintz L. , Peng W.‐M. , Hart J. , Hagemann T. , Diaz‐Lacava A. , Baurecht H.‐J. , Klopp N. , Wagenpfeil S. , Behrendt H. , Bieber T. , Ring J. , Illig T. , Weidinger S. 
Published: July 2010

Background:  Toll‐like receptors (TLR) play a pivotal role in the induction of first‐line defense mechanisms of the innate immune system and trigger adaptive immune responses to microbial pathogens. Genetic variations in innate immunity genes have been reported to be associated with a range of inflammatory disorders. Deficiencies on the level of immunity receptors such as pathogen‐recognition receptors are suspected to affect the maturation of our immune system and to avail thereby the high prevalence of atopic diseases and susceptibility of atopic patients to microbial infections.Aims of the study:  We evaluated TLR9 as susceptibility gene for atopic eczema (AE).Methods:  Analyses of four tag single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in two panels of families containing a total of 483 parent‐affected offspring trios as well as a cohort of 274 unrelated adult AE cases and 252 hypernormal population‐based controls have been performed.Results:  In both family cohorts, polymorphism C‐1237T, which is located within the promoter region of the TLR9 gene, was significantly associated with AE, in particular the intrinsic subtype of AE. No associations were seen in the case–control cohort. Luciferase reporter gene assays revealed significantly higher promoter activity of the TT allelic variant at this single nucleotide polymorphism site.Conclusion:  These observations suggest that the TLR9 promoter polymorphism C‐1237T might affect AE susceptibility in particular in patients with the intrinsic variant of AE.
Facial thermography is a sensitive and specific method for assessing food challenge outcome
Authors: Clark A. T. , Mangat J. S. , Tay S. S. , King Y. , Monk C. J. , White P. A. , Ewan P. W. 
Published: July 2010

Background:  Oral challenge is widely used for diagnosing food allergy but variable interpretation of subjective symptoms may cause error. Facial thermography was evaluated as a novel, objective and sensitive indicator of challenge outcome.Methods:  A total of 24 children with a history of egg allergy underwent oral challenge, which were scored positive when objective symptoms occurred or negative after all doses were consumed without reaction. Facial temperatures were recorded at baseline and 10‐min intervals. The difference between mean and baseline temperature (ΔT), maximum ΔT during challenge (ΔTmax) and area under curve of ΔT against time (ΔTAUC) were calculated for predefined nasal, oral and forehead areas, and related to objective challenge outcome.Results:  There were 13 positive and 11 negative challenges. Median nasal ΔTAUC and ΔTmax were greater in positive compared with negative challenges (231‐ and 5‐fold, respectively; P < 0.05). In positive challenges, nasal temperatures showed an early transient rise at 20 min, preceding objective symptoms at median 67 min. There was a sustained temperature increase from 60 min, which was reduced by antihistamines. A cut‐off for nasal ΔTmax of 0.8°C occurring within 20 min of the start of the challenge predicted outcome with 91% sensitivity (positive predictive value [PPV] 100%) and 100% specificity (negative predictive value [NPV] 93%). Subjective symptoms occurred in four of 13 positive and three of 11 negative challenges.Conclusions:  Facial thermography consistently detects a significant early rise in nasal temperature during positive compared with negative food challenges, which is evident before objective symptoms occur. Thermography may therefore provide a sensitive method to determine outcome of food challenges and investigate the pathophysiology of food allergic reactions.
Diagnosis and natural course of allergy to cooked potatoes in children
Authors: De Swert L. F. A. , Cadot P. , Ceuppens J. L. 
Published: July 2010

Background:  Allergy to heat stable potato proteins can cause severe allergic disease in children.Objective:  To study diagnostic criteria for allergy to cooked potatoes and to describe its clinical characteristics and natural history.Methods:  Thirty‐six children, aged 4–36 months, with atopic symptoms and having a positive potato‐CAP and/or skin prick test (SPT) were included. Potato allergy was documented by means of provocation, or elimination and reintroduction or an unequivocal clinical history. Potato‐CAP and SPT with a commercial extract were evaluated for diagnostic performance.Results:  Presenting symptoms in children with proven potato allergy (n = 17) were eczema (16 of 17), gastrointestinal complaints (eight of 17), urticaria and/or angioedema (five of 17), wheezing/rhinitis (three of 17) and anaphylaxis (two of 17). Fifteen children had previously diagnosed cow's milk protein allergy and were egg‐sensitized. Potato‐CAP at cut‐off >2 kU/l provided a 100% sensitivity and a 62.5% specificity for diagnosis of potato allergy, while a SPT score ≥ 3 had a 100% sensitivity and a score ≥ 4 had a 100% specificity. Tolerance to cooked potato was achieved in 80% of subjects at age 16–102 months. Of 12 subjects having reached the age of 3 years during the study, 10 were re‐evaluated at age 3–6 years: seven of 10 subjects had developed clinical pollen allergy, compared with four of 18 atopic controls (P < 0.05).Conclusions:  Potato‐CAP and SPT at specific cut‐off are valuable tools in the diagnosis of allergy to cooked potato. Most children with potato allergy develop tolerance at mean age of 4 years. Allergy to cooked potatoes is a risk factor for the development of pollen allergy.
The sodium‐dependent glucose cotransporter SLC5A11 as an autoimmune modifier gene in SLE
Authors: Tsai L.‐J. , Hsiao S.‐H. , Tsai L.‐M. , Lin C.‐Y. , Tsai J.‐J. , Liou D.‐M. , Lan J.‐L. 
Published: July 2010

AbstractGenetic studies in several human autoimmune diseases suggest that the pericentromeric region of chromosome 16 might harbor an autoimmune modifier gene. We hypothesized that the sodium‐dependent glucose cotransporter gene SLC5A11 is such a gene, and so might interact with immune‐related genes. Herein, this hypothesis was tested in a genetic evaluation of the multiple gene effect in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We used the case–control candidate gene association approach. Eight immune‐related genes involved in inflammation and autoantibody generation and clear‐up [interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN), interleukin 1‐beta (IL1‐β), tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), lymphotoxin‐alpha (LTA), tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily, member 6 (TNFSF6), programmed cell death 1 (PDCD1), C2, and complement component 4 (C4)] were selected for study. Frequency of each candidate’s genotype and allele between case and control were compared. Results were stratified by reanalyzing genotype data with relevant symptoms. Finally, improved computational data mining was used to analyze the phenotypes in a large data set. In the frequency analysis, only IL1‐β was significantly associated with SLE. Stratification analysis showed a significant association with SLE symptoms between SLC5A11 and the other immune‐related genes, with the exceptions of TNFSF6 and C4. SLC5A11 was significantly associated with low C4 (as was TNF‐α), anti‐Smith antibody (anti‐Sm) (as was C2), serositis, and alopecia. Finally, SLC5A11 interacted with PDCD1, TNF‐α, LTA, and C4. After our study, we concluded that SLC5A11 is involved with some immune effects and interacts with immune‐related gene(s), consistent with its function as an autoimmune modifier gene. Furthermore, SLC5A11 might induce apoptosis through the TNF‐α, PDCD1 pathway. The present genotype–phenotype mapping approach should be applicable to genetic study of other complex diseases.
Untersuchungen über den Abbaumechanismus einer gereinigten Polygalakturonase aus Aspergillus niger
Authors: Koller A. , Neukom H. 
Published: July 2010

Using an Aspergillus niger enzyme preparation, a pure polygalacturonase has been isolated by chromatography on cellulose phosphate.
The alkali‐labile enzyme has an isoelectric point of 4.5 and a pH optimum of 5.5; its activation energy is 8.3 kcal/mole.
The enzyme hydrolyzes 48% of the glycosidic bonds in pectic acid. Besides di‐ and monogalacturonic acid, the hydrolysate mostly contains trigalacturonic acid.
Depending on the degree of esterification, the methyl ester of pectic acid is degraded with varying intensity. If the degree of esterification exceeds 75%, pectin is no longer degraded. Acetylation of the secondary alcohol groups, up to 70%, has little effect.
Di‐ and trigalacturonic acid are not hydrolyzed. Tetragalacturonic acid is split into mono‐and trigalacturonic acid, penta‐ and hexagalacturonic acid into tri‐, di‐ and monogalacturonic acid.
The isolated enzyme is an endopolygalacturonase. The study of the degradation products strongly suggests that two carboxyl groups of pectic acid become attached to the binding sites of the enzyme molecule. These two groups are separated from the active center by three and six galacturonic acid units respectively.
Blocking of the binding sites at higher substrate concentrations causes a decrease in enzyme activity.