bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic drug monitoring – antiepileptic drugs
Authors: Eadie M. J. 
Published: August 2010

Aims  To provide a brief critical review of the basis and contemporary practice of monitoring the concentrations of antiepileptic drugs in biological fluids.Methods  The review is based on literature data and observations from clinical practice.Results  As experience has accumulated, monitoring of antiepileptic drug concentrations has come to be applied mainly to certain of the drugs when present in whole plasma. For these drugs there is a reasonably established relationship between drug concentrations and biological effects, but attention still needs to be paid to issues such as the timing of the measurements in relation to drug intake, the presence or absence of steady‐state conditions, the presence in plasma of active metabolites and possible nonlinear pharmacokinetics of particular agents, e.g. phenytoin.Conclusions  Plasma antiepileptic drug concentration monitoring is coming to be used in a more thoughtful and critical manner. Lack of adequate knowledge of matters such as the relationship between the plasma concentrations and antiepileptic and toxic effects of the drugs, not only the newer, but also the longer established ones, in particular clinical situations, remains more important than deficiencies in analytical methodology in limiting the clinical usefulness of antiepileptic drug concentration monitoring.
Dramatic change in prescribing of hormone replacement therapy in the Netherlands after publication of the Million Women Study: a follow‐up study
Authors: Faber Adrianne , Bouvy Marcel L. , Loskamp Linda , Van De Berg Paul B. , Egberts Toine C. G. , De Jong‐van den Berg Lolkje T. W. 
Published: August 2010

AimsTo estimate the diffusion of new safety information concerning postmenopausal hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) into prescribing practice in the Netherlands and to assess the impact of revised guidelines on the long‐term treatment of HRT.DesignCross‐sectional study.SettingCommunity pharmacy dispensing data from a population of approximately 450 000 patients in the northern and eastern part of the Netherlands.PopulationWomen aged 45–69 years to whom at least one HRT prescription was dispensed between 1 January 2000 and 1 January 2004.Main outcome measuresAnnual and quarter prevalences of HRT and the proportion of new HRT users, switchers and continuous HRT users per quarter.ResultsThe prevalence of HRT prescribing decreased significantly from 107/1000 [95% confidence interval (CI) 104, 110] in 2000 to 87/1000 (95% CI 84, 89) in 2003. The decreasing prevalence was especially evident among the younger age groups and was most pronounced among users of oestrogen/progestagen combinations. The publication of the Women Health Initiative Study (WHI) was followed by a modest decrease in prescribing of HRT, whereas prescribing of HRT declined dramatically after publication of the Million Women Study (MWS) in August 2003. Among the continuous HRT users in the 4th quarter of 2002, 55% used HRT longer than 3 years. This percentage was 53 in the 4th quarter of 2003.ConclusionsIn contrast to the release of the WHI study results, publication of the MWS was followed by a dramatic fall in prescribing of HRT in the Netherlands. Despite the new recommendation that long‐term HRT use should be discouraged, the proportion of long‐term users did not change after the publication of the MWS.
Vasodilator effects of the endothelin ETA receptor selective antagonist BMS‐193884 in healthy men
Authors: Dhaun Neeraj , Strachan Fiona E. , Newby David E. , Johnston Neil R. , Ford Neville F. , Hammett Janis L. , Palmisano Maria , Webb David J. 
Published: August 2010

AimsA number of endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAs) are currently in clinical development as potential therapies in states characterized by vasoconstriction, such as systemic hypertension. We investigated the haemodynamic effects of locally and systemically active doses of BMS‐193884, an endothelin A (ETA) receptor selective ERA, and its influence on vasoconstriction to endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) in healthy men.MethodsIn three separate randomized, placebo‐controlled studies, the forearm blood flow (FBF) response to intra‐arterial (i.a.) infusion of ET‐1 (5 pmol min−1) was assessed during i.a. co‐infusion of BMS‐193884 (5 and 50 nmol min−1), and at 12 and at 24 h after oral administration of BMS‐193884 (50, 100 and 200 mg at 12 h; and 200 mg at 24 h). Data were examined by repeated‐measures analysis of variance (anova) with treatment and subject as factors.ResultsET‐1 caused significant forearm vasoconstriction, attenuated after oral dosing with BMS‐193884 (200 mg) at 12 (P < 0.01) and 24 h (P < 0.0001). BMS‐193884 (50 nmol min−1, i.a.) caused local vasodilatation (25 ± 11%) when infused alone (P = 0.02) and abolished forearm vasoconstriction to ET‐1 (P < 0.0001 vs. ET‐1 alone). Orally, BMS‐193884 (200 mg) caused a reduction in total systemic vascular resistance at 12 (−14 ± 9%, P = 0.03) and 24 h (−12 ± 7%, P < 0.0001). There was no rise in plasma ET‐1 levels.ConclusionBMS‐193884 causes local and systemic vasodilatation and attenuation of local vasoconstriction to ET‐1. The absence of a rise in plasma endothelin levels suggests BMS‐193884 is selective for the ETA receptor. This form of pharmacodynamic modelling may be useful in the development of ERAs in cardiovascular disease.
IgA rheumatoid factor in mucosal fluids and serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: immunological aspects and clinical significance
Authors: OTTEN H G , DAHA M R , van der MAARL M G J , HOOGENDOORN L I , BEEM E M , de ROOY H H , BREEDVELD F C 
Published: August 2010

SUMMARYIn order to gain insight into the production and clinical significance of IgA rheumatoid factor (IgA-RF) in mucosal fluids of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we examined tear fluid, saliva and serum from 80 patients with RA. Significant correlations were found between IgA-RF levels in tear fluid and saliva (P=0·002, r =0·57), saliva and serum (P&lt;0·001, r = 0·79), and serum and tear fluid (P&lt;0.001, r=0.31). No significant correlations were found between total IgA levels in these fluids. Comparison between circulating and mucosal IgA-RF levels after correction for total IgA, revealed that mucosal IgA-RF levels are on average 2·5 times higher than circulating IgA-RF levels. Analysis of IgA-RF specificity showed that lacrimal and salivary IgA-RF reactivity with various IgG subclasses is similar and differs from serum IgA-RF specificity. These results indicate local production of IgA-RF in salivary and lacrimal glands and support the view of a common origin of IgA-RF producing B cells present in mucosal tissues. Mucosal and circulating levels of IgA and IgA-RF were not associated with tests that quantify tear fluid production. This indicates that mucosal and circulating levels of IgA and IgA-RF in patients with RA cannot be regarded as markers for the development of secondary Sjögren's syndrome.
Treatment of murine macrophages with murine interferon-gamma and tumour necrosis factor-alpha enhances uptake and intracellular killing ofPseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: PIERANGELI S S , SONNENFELD G 
Published: August 2010

SUMMARYMurine interferon-gamma (MuIFN-γ) and murine tumour necrosis-alpha (MuTNF-α) are known to be potent immunomodulators of several aspects of the immune response, and they have been shown to exert profound effects on macrophages and monocytcs. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of MuIFN-γ and MuTNF-α on the phagocytosis (uptake and intracellular killing) of opsonized Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Unstimulated peritoneal macrophages obtained from CBA/c mice were exposed to different concentrations ol'recombinant forms of ihecytokines (rMuIFN-γ and rMuTNF-α) for different periods of time. Phagocytosis was assayed using different concentrations of opsonized Ps. aeruginosa. In all cases the pretreatment of the cells with the cytokines increased significantly the uptake and the intracellular killing of bacteria in a dose-dependent manner. rMuTNF-α was effective only at 1000 U/ml. Combined treatment with the cytokines showed a less than additive effect with rMuIFN-γ and rMuTNF-α at concentrations of 10 U/ml and 100 U/ml. In the in vivo experiments, peritoneal macrophages obtained from rMuIFN-γ- or rMuTNF-α-treated mice showed enhancement of the intracellular killing of opsonized bacteria in a dose-dependent manner.
Antigenic cross-reactivity between human T lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) and retinal antigens recognized by T cells
Authors: FUKUSHIMA A , UENO H , FUJIMOTO S 
Published: August 2010

SUMMARYTo investigate the relationship between uveitis and HTLV-I infection, we examined the crossreactivity between HTLV-I antigens and retinal antigens recognized by T cells in BIO.BR mice immunized with human HTLV-I-infected MT-2 cells. We found that T cells obtained from MT-2 immune mouse spleen responded not only to HTLV-I antigens but also to retinal antigens of various species. However, they did not respond to HTLV-I-negative lymphoid cell lines. Furthermore, established T cell lines from MT-2 immune spleen cells also responded to both HTLV-I and retinal antigens. The phenotype of the immune cells that responded to both HTLV-I and retinal antigens was CD4+, CD8-, and CD3+. The proliferative response of T cell lines to HTLV-I as well as various retinal antigens, was clearly blocked by addition of anti-CD3, anti-CD4, or anti-I-AK MoAbs, but not by anti-CD8 antibody. The established T cell lines from HTLV-I immune spleen cells were all found to be CD3+, TCRβ+, CD4+, CD8- cells by flow cytometric analysis. These results indicate that an epitope of HTLV-I antigens is cross-reactive to an epitope of retinal antigens extracted from either human retinoblastoma or normal murine, rat, and bovine retinae at a T cell recognition level.
Relationship of periodontal infection to serum antibody levels to periodontopathic bacteria and inflammatory markers in periodontitis patients with coronary heart disease
Authors: Yamazaki K , Honda T , Domon H , Okui T , Kajita K , Amanuma R , Kudoh C , Takashiba S , Kokeguchi S , Nishimura F , Kodama M , Aizawa Y , Oda H 
Published: August 2010

SummarySeveral reports have demonstrated a possible association of periodontal infections with coronary heart disease (CHD) by elevated antibody titre to periodontopathic bacteria in CHD patients compared with non-diseased controls. Although each periodontopathic bacterium may vary in virulence for periodontitis and atherosclerosis, antibody response to multiple bacteria in CHD patients has not been understood fully. Therefore, serum levels of antibody to 12 periodontopathic bacteria together with other atherosclerotic risk markers were compared among 51 patients with CHD, 55 patients with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis and 37 healthy individuals. The antibody response was the most prevalent for Porphyromonas gingivalis, a major causative organism, in CHD as well as periodontitis patients. However, antibody positivity was different between CHD and periodontitis if the response was analysed for two different strains of P. gingivalis, namely FDC381 and Su63. While periodontitis patients were positive for both P. gingivalis FDC381 and Su63, a high frequency of antibody positivity for P. gingivalis Su63 but not for FDC381 was observed in CHD patients. The results indicate that the presence of particular periodontopathic bacteria with high virulence may affect atherogenesis. Identifying the virulence factors of P. gingivalis Su63 may gain insight into the new therapeutic modality for infection-induced deterioration of atherosclerosis.
Estimating soil frictional resistance to metal probes and its relevance to the penetration of soil by roots
Authors: BENGOUGH A. G. , MULLINS C. E. , WILSON G. 
Published: August 2010

SummaryFriction accounts for a large proportion of the resistance to a penetrometer probe, often much more so than to a plant root. The contribution of frictional resistance to penetrometer resistance was investigated in five soils with texture ranging from sandy loam to silty clay. The effect on penetration resistance of rotating the conical tip of the probe was studied in both intact cores of undisturbed field soil, and in cores remoulded from sieved soil. Rotation altered the orientation of the vector of frictional resistance towards a direction perpendicular to the probe axis, and so decreased the component of frictional resistance that opposed the axial penetration of the probe. The decrease in friction was greater for probes with a semiangle of 5° than those with a 30° semiangle and was more than half of the total resistance to a nonrotating probe in 15 out of the 16 cases studied. A theoretical treatment of the effect of rotation period on probe resistance showed good agreement with the experimental results. The penetration resistance of a metal probe is related to that of a root in terms of frictional resistance and factors such as the penetration rate. When all frictional resistance was subtracted from the resistance measured to the penetration of a 5 semiangle probe, the remaining resistance was similar to that measured for roots growing in the same soil.
Phosphorus recycling in lakes: evidence from large limnetic enclosures for the importance of shallow sediments
Authors: REYNOLDS C.S. 
Published: August 2010

SUMMARY

The dynamics of phosphorus in large field enclosures are described from a series of experimental manipulations directed primarily to the study of phytoplankton populations. The enclosures were similar in size but differed in their depth contours. The aim of the present analysis was to detect systematic differences in the phosphorus budgets of deep and shallow systems.
The sequence of events in each of six year‐long experiments is described in terms of algal production. The values are compared with water‐column measurements of total phosphorus (TP), the reactive fraction (SRP) and changes in the particulate fraction (PP, assumed to be TP minus SRP). Stoichiometric ratios for larger phytoplankton crops were in the range 85–110 C/P (molar).
The annual aggregate of new carbon produced in the two uniformly deep enclosures (11.5 m) in relation to the phosphorus supplied was also remarkably close to Redfield stoichiometry, with between 87 and 97mol C yielded per mol P added. However, in the graded enclosure (< 4–13.5 m), the yield was up to twice as great (maximum: 197 mol C mol‐1 P available).
There are two possible mechanisms. A graded surface permits a greater area of sediment to be in contact with the hypolimnion and for the sediment oxygen demand to deplete a greater hypolimnetic volume; the associated fall in redox would have been adequate to explain the observed increment of dissolved phosphorus to the hypolimnion, associated with the Einsele–Mortimer model (ferric → ferrous iron reduction). There was no clear evidence that this phosphorus supported autotrophic production until late in the year.
The alternative mechanism is based on the association of phosphorus ‘injection’ to the epilimnion during wind‐mixed episodes, when the enhanced shear stress on shallow sediments resuspends fine, superficial deposits and their interstitial waters into the full circulation. Circumstantial evidence suggests this second pathway predominated in the graded enclosure but was ineffective in the uniformly deep enclosures.
The role of mechanical, aerobic phosphorus cycling in the nutrient economy of lakes, especially small or shallow ones, may have been underestimated in the past but it must be considered when evaluating any proposal to reduce the external nutrient loads to lakes.
Functional analysis and molecular characterization of two acetylcholinesterases from the German cockroach, Blattella germanica
Authors: Kim Y. H. , Choi J. Y. , Je Y. H. , Koh Y. H. , Lee S. H. 
Published: August 2010

AbstractTwo acetylcholinesterases (AChEs; BgAChE1 and BgAChE2) from Blattella germanica were functionally expressed using the baculovirus system. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that BgAChE2 had higher catalytic efficiency but lower substrate specificity than BgAChE1. With the exceptions of paraoxon and propoxur, BgAChE1 was generally less sensitive to inhibitors than BgAChE2. Western blot analysis using anti‐BgAChE antibodies revealed that BgAChE1 was far more abundant in all examined tissues compared to BgAChE2, which is only present in the central nervous system. Both BgAChEs existed in dimeric form, covalently connected via a disulphide bridge under native conditions. Most fractions of BgAChE1 had a glycophosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor, but a small fraction comprised a collagen‐like tail. BgAChE2 appeared to have a collagen‐GPI‐fused tail. Based on the kinetic and molecular properties, tissue distribution and abundance, BgAChE1 was confirmed to play a major role in postsynaptic transmission.
Regional odontodysplasia: report of four cases
Authors: ANSARI G. , REID J. S. , FUNG D. E. , CREANOR S. L. 
Published: August 2010

Summary. Four cases of regional odontodysplasia are described. Clinically erupted teeth appear hypoplastic and are often mobile. The radiographic appearance has given rise to the term ‘ghost teeth’ and the cases presented demonstrate this with short roots which are less well calcified than normal teeth. Clinical and radiographic findings showed that this condition affects only one side of the jaw, but can be seen in any part of the upper or lower jaws. This article represents cases in different parts of the mouth with varying degrees of involvement.Resumé.Quatre cas d'odontodysplasie régionale sont décrits. Les dents ayant fait leur éruption clinique sont apparues hypoplasiques et souvent mobiles. Leur aspect à l'examen radiographic a donné naissance à l'appellation de ‘dents fantômes' et les cas présentés le confirmaent par leurs racines courtes moins minéralisées que des dents normales. Les signes cliniques et radiographiques montraient que cette pathologie n'existait que sur un côté du maxillaire mais pouvait se retrouver à des sites différents du maxillaire supérieur ou inférieur. Cet article présente des cas avec différentes localisations dans la bouche et avec des développements variables.Zusammenfassung.Fälle von lokalen Odontodysplasia werden beschrieben. Klinisch durchgebrochene Zähne waren hypoplatisch und öfters auch mobil. Der röntgologische Befund zeigte schlecht verkalkte, kurze Wurzeln im Sinne s.g. ‘ghost teeth’. Diese Befunde haben nur eine Seite der Kiefer befällen, könnon aber senet im jedem. Toil der Kiefer gefunden werden. Diese Studie beschriebt Fälle wo dies der Fall ist.Resumen.Se describen cuatro casos de odontodisplasia regional. Los dientes erupcionados clínicamente se presentan hipoplásicos y casi siempre móviles. El aspecto radiográfico ha dado origen al nombre ‘dientes fantasmas’ y los casos presentados demuestran este aspecto con raices cortas las cuales estan menos calcificadas que la de los dientes normales. Los hallazgos clinicos y radiográficos mostraton que la condición afecta solo un lado de los maxilares, pero puede ser observada en cualquier lugar de cualquiera de los maxilares. Este articulo presenta casos en diferentes partes de la boca y en diferentes grados.
Measuring professional competency of public health nurses: development of a scale and psychometric evaluation
Authors: Lin Chouh‐Jiaun , Hsu Chi‐Ho , Li Tsai‐Chung , Mathers Nigel , Huang Yu‐Chu 
Published: August 2010

Aims and objectives.  To develop an instrument to measure public health nurse competencies in Taiwan and to test its psychometric properties.Background.  Core competencies for public health nursing practice have been established in the USA and elsewhere but no equivalent studies have been undertaken in Taiwan.Design.  Postal survey of self‐administered questionnaire to 1534 full‐time public health nurses (response rate 67·3%).Methods.  The Public Health Nurse Professional Competency Scale was based on a literature review, the six key competencies identified by the Taiwan Nurses Association and the ‘typical’ tasks reported by nursing researchers. The scale comprised four domains and 38 items using a four‐point Likert scale. Validity and reliability of the scale were determined by a seven‐member professional panel and the content validity calculated for each domain. Discriminatory power and the item‐total correlation index were used to analyse and eliminate items. Convergent and discriminant validity were assessed and factor analysis to test the dimensions of the scale – stability was determined by interscale correlations, internal and test–retest reliability.Results.  The mean age of respondents was 40·6 years (SD 8·54) with the majority holding an associate degree (67·0%). Participants had worked for an average of 11·7 years (SD 9·20) and 74·4% held a registered nurse license. The scale had strong content validity (Indices > 0·8) and good test–retest reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0·93–0·97). Nine items were excluded during factor analysis and three factors accounted for 46–82% of the total variance: (1) basic‐care, (2) community health management and (3) combined teaching and self‐development competencies. The scale had high discriminant validity.Conclusions.  A Public Health Nurse Professional Competency Scale has been developed and shown to have good reliability and validity.Relevance to clinical practice.  The scale can be used to assess the competencies of Public Health Nurses in Taiwan and improve the quality of clinical services provided.
Differential effects of climate variability on forest dynamics along a precipitation gradient in northern Patagonia
Authors: Laura Suarez María , Kitzberger Thomas 
Published: August 2010

Summary 1. The understanding of the impacts of climate anomalies on demographic processes involved in forest dynamics is becoming a major global change research objective, as climate‐driven demographic changes have the potential to alter ecological processes and change the composition of existing communities. 2. Here, we test whether the effects of climatic variability on Nothofagus dombeyi forest dynamics differ along the W–E precipitation gradient of northern Patagonia, Argentina, due to different controlling factors along the gradient. 3. Using a dendroecological approach, we sampled six N. dombeyi stands along the gradient. Tree death, growth release and sapling birth dates were obtained and used to reconstruct stand mortality, canopy disturbance and establishment patterns in each stand. Discrete extreme climatic events were obtained by applying thresholds to meteorological time series. Bivariate event analysis was performed to examine the temporal relationships between climate events and forest demographic and canopy disturbance patterns. 4. In the xeric region, forest dynamics is driven by drought/heat and humid events. Following drought/heat events we observed standing‐dead tree mortality, releases in growth, and tree establishment episodes. Regional synchrony of these events was coincident with droughts registered for northern Patagonia. However, successful establishment was related to wet periods that occurred after drought events, showing the dependence on favourable periods for growth. For wet regions, demographic patterns showed a temporally uniform pattern but with synchronies at the regional and local scales. Canopy openings produced by fallen trees, and consequent release in growth and establishment, were related to both drought and snowy/windy years. The effect of drought in wet region forests was related mainly to the extreme 1998–99 drought in northern Patagonia. 5. Synthesis. Climate in northern Patagonia influences N. dombeyi forest dynamics differentially along a precipitation gradient. In xeric forests, strong but relatively short climatic fluctuations impact forest structure through direct effects on tree demography. In wet forests, climatic‐induced mechanical disturbance prevails, driving mortality and subsequent growth and establishment. Considering that recent extreme droughts have the strongest negative impact on N. dombeyi populations at the eastern distributional limits, a change in distribution of this species as a consequence of projected climate change is expected.