bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Medication consumption in the Spanish paediatric population: related factors and time trend, 1993–2003
Authors: Carrasco‐Garrido Pilar , Jiménez‐García Rodrigo , Barrera Valentín Hernández , De Andrés Ana López , De Miguel Ángel Gil 
Published: May 2009

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS SUBJECT? • Health authorities undertake specific campaigns targeted at making the population more keenly aware of the need to use medications rationally.• Parents are increasingly turning to medications prescribed for the ‘over‐the‐counter’ (OTC) specialties as substitutes, using them – not always correctly – to treat symptoms such as acute cough, fever or pain. WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS? • Our study constitutes an approach to self‐reported drug consumption in the Spanish paediatric population, based on a representative nationwide sample.• There was a significant decline in overall drug consumption in the Spanish paediatric population from 1993 to 2003.• Nevertheless, the prevalence of consumption of analgesics, antipyretics and antibiotics has risen.AIMSTo ascertain the prevalence of consumption of medications in the Spanish paediatric population and to identify the factors associated with such consumption.METHODSThis was a descriptive, cross‐sectional study covering the Spanish adult population, using data drawn from the 1993 and 2003 Spanish National Health Surveys (SNHS). The 1993 and 2003 SNHS include data on 5280 and 6463 children, respectively, age range 0–15 years. The independent variables were sociodemographic and health‐related, and the dependent variable was medications use. Using logistic multivariate regression models, we analysed the temporal evolution of medication consumption between 1993 and 2003.RESULTSThe 1993 SNHS data revealed that 36.81% of the paediatric population had consumed some type of medication, whereas in 2003 this figure had dropped to 34%. Over the decade of study, there was a significant decrease in use of medications for catarrh, influenza, throat (P < 0.05), and an increase in consumption of pain‐relieving drugs and/or fever‐lowering, antibiotics and anti‐allergy remedies. Multivariate analysis highlighted the association between medication consumption, negative perception of the child's health [odds ratio (OR) 2.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.16, 3.72 in 1993, and OR 3.54, 95% CI 2.74, 4.56 in 2003] and medical visits to the physician across the 2 years (OR 12.09, 95% CI 10.13, 14.42 in 1993, and OR 7.17, 95% CI 6.06, 8.47 in 2003).CONCLUSIONSAlthough there was a significant decline in overall drug consumption in the Spanish paediatric population from 1993 to 2003, the prevalence of consumption of certain groups, such as analgesics, antipyretics and antibiotics, has risen.
The protective role of antibody responses duringMycobacterium tuberculosisinfection
Authors: Abebe F , Bjune G 
Published: May 2009

SummaryTuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is one of the most important infectious diseases globally. Immune effector mechanisms that lead to protection or development of clinical disease are not fully known. It is generally accepted that cell-mediated immunity (CMI) plays a pivotal role in controlling Mtb infection, whereas antibody responses are believed to have no protective role. This generalization is based mainly on early classical experiments that lacked standard protocols, and the T helper type 1 (Th1)/Th2 paradigm. According to the Th1/Th2 paradigm Th1 cells protect the host from intracellular pathogens, whereas Th2 cells protect form extracellular pathogens. During the last two decades, the Th1/Th2 paradigm has dominated not only our understanding of immunity to infectious pathogens but also our approach to vaccine design. However, the last few years have seen major discrepancies in this model. Convincing evidence for the protective role of antibodies against several intracellular pathogens has been established. Studies of B cell-deficient mice, severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice, passive immunization using monoclonal (mAb) and polyclonal antibodies and immune responses against specific mycobacterial antigens in experimental animals reveal that, in addition to a significant immunomodulatory effect on CMI, antibodies play an essential protective role against mycobacterial infections. In this review, our current understanding of the essential role of antibodies during Mtb infections, limitations of the Th1/Th2 model and the unfolding interdependence and mutual regulatory relationships between the humoral and CMI will be presented and discussed.
Dexamethasone suppresses interleukin-22 associated with bacterial infection in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Ziesché E , Scheiermann P , Bachmann M , Sadik C D , Hofstetter C , Zwissler B , Pfeilschifter J , Mühl H 
Published: May 2009

Summary
Interleukin (IL)-22 production triggered by innate immune mechanisms has been identified as key to efficient intestinal anti-bacterial host defence and preservation of homeostasis. We hypothesized that glucocorticoid therapy may impair IL-22 expression, which should promote intestinal epithelial damage with the potential of subsequent bacterial translocation. High-dose corticosteroid therapy in Crohn’s disease has been associated with an increased rate of abscess formation and ultimately with a higher risk of developing postoperative infectious complications, including abdominal sepsis. Thus, we sought to investigate effects of the prototypic glucocorticoid dexamethasone on IL-22 production in the context of bacterial infection. Enhanced IL-22 plasma levels were detectable in rat sepsis. Moreover, heat-inactivated Staphylococcus epidermidis, used as a prototypic activator of innate immunity, induced robust production of IL-22 by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Here, we report for the first time that dexamethasone mediates remarkable suppression of IL-22 as detected in S. epidermidis-activated PBMC and rat sepsis, respectively. The data presented herein suggest that insufficient IL-22 function may contribute to impaired intestinal host defence in the context of corticosteroid therapy.
A randomized, controlled, multicentre trial comparing pegvisomant alone with combination therapy of pegvisomant and long‐acting octreotide in patients with acromegaly
Authors: Trainer Peter J. , Ezzat Shereen , D’Souza Gwyn A. , Layton Gary , Strasburger Christian J. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryObjective  For patients with acromegaly who are suboptimally controlled on long‐acting octreotide (LAR), treatment options are to switch to pegvisomant monotherapy (PM) or add pegvisomant to LAR (P‐LAR). Our objective was to evaluate if the safety and efficacy of these regimens differ.Design  This was an open‐label, multicentre, randomized, 40‐week outpatient study. The control arm consisted of patients controlled on LAR (n = 28).Patients  A total of 27 patients with suboptimally controlled acromegaly [as indicated by a serum IGF‐I level ≥ 1·3 × upper limit of normal (ULN) of the age‐related reference range] were randomized to PM (10 mg once daily initially, then adjusted in 5‐mg increments every 8 weeks based on IGF‐I levels) and 29 to P‐LAR (LAR dosing remained fixed).Measurements  The primary end‐point was adverse events (AEs). The secondary end‐point was biochemical IGF‐I‐based efficacy. The RIA for IGF‐I was discontinued by the manufacturer during the study and a chemiluminescent assay was subsequently used. Previously obtained IGF‐I levels were re‐analysed.Results  PM and P‐LAR were well tolerated and there were no differences in the number of AEs. Patients receiving P‐LAR tended to be more likely to have clinically significant increases in hepatic transaminase levels, especially those receiving high‐dose LAR. Normalization of IGF‐I was similar with both regimens (56% and 62% of patients for PM and P‐LAR respectively). The change in IGF‐I assay resulted in lower rates of IGF‐I normalization than expected. Reductions in fasting glucose levels were greater with PM than with P‐LAR (−0·8 mmol/l; 95% confidence interval −1·16, −0·53 mmol/l).Conclusions  In patients suboptimally controlled on LAR, PM and P‐LAR were equally well tolerated and effective in normalizing IGF‐I, and overall clinical improvement was observed with both regimens. Thus, pegvisomant monotherapy and adjunctive therapy are equally viable options for the treatment of LAR‐resistant acromegaly.
Molecular analysis of congenital goitres with hypothyroidism caused by defective thyroglobulin synthesis. Identification of a novel c.7006C>T [p.R2317X] mutation and expression of minigenes containing nonsense mutations in exon 7
Authors: Machiavelli Gloria A. , Caputo Mariela , Rivolta Carina M. , Olcese María C. , Gruñeiro‐Papendieck Laura , Chiesa Ana , González‐Sarmiento Rogelio , Targovnik Héctor M. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryBackground  Thyroglobulin (TG) deficiency is an autosomal‐recessive disorder that results in thyroid dyshormonogenesis. A number of distinct mutations have been identified as causing human hypothyroid goitre.Objectives  The purpose of this study was to identify and characterize new mutations in the TG gene in an attempt to increase the understanding of the genetic mechanism responsible for this disorder. A total of six patients from four nonconsanguineous families with marked impairment of TG synthesis were studied.Methods  Single‐strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis, sequencing of DNA, genotyping, expression of chimeric minigenes and bioinformatic analysis were performed.Results  Four different inactivating TG mutations were identified: one novel mutation (c.7006C>T [p.R2317X]) and three previously reported (c.886C>T [p.R277X], c.6701C>A [p.A2215D] and c.6725G>A [p.R2223H]). Consequently, one patient carried a compound heterozygous for p.R2223H/p.R2317X mutations; two brothers showed a homozygous p.A2215D substitution and the remaining three patients, from two families with typical phenotype, had a single p.R277X mutated allele. We also showed functional evidences that premature stop codons inserted at different positions in exon 7, which disrupt exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) sequences, do not interfere with exon definition and processing.Conclusions  In this study, we have identified a novel nonsense mutation p.R2317X in the acetylcholinesterase homology domain of TG. We have also observed that nonsense mutations do not interfere with the pre‐mRNA splicing of exon 7. The results are in accordance with previous observations confirming the genetic heterogeneity of TG defects.
Minimal diagnostic criteria for myelodysplastic syndromes and separation from ICUS and IDUS: update and open questions
Authors: Valent P. , Horny H.‐P. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractAlthough a classification for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) has been proposed by several working groups and by the World Health Organization (WHO), with criteria useful to discriminate between disease variants, the important issue of minimal diagnostic criteria of MDS has only recently been addressed. In the current article, proposed minimal diagnostic criteria for MDS are discussed together with two conditions that do not meet these criteria, although cytopenia or dysplasia is present. These two conditions, idiopathic cytopenia of unknown significance and idiopathic dysplasia of unknown significance should be kept in mind as a provisional (potential) diagnosis in patients with suspected MDS. Both conditions can progress to frank MDS over time. Therefore, once diagnosed, these patients should have a haematological follow‐up. The diagnosis MDS, on the other hand, needs to be based on robust criteria and exclusion of all other causes of cytopenia and dysplasia, which requires detailed and sometimes extensive investigations, including a bone marrow biopsy, cytogenetic analyses, molecular studies and flow cytometry.
The effect of trehalose, sucrose and maltodextrin addition on physicochemical and sensory aspects of freeze ‐ dried strawberry puree
Authors: Galmarini Mara V. , Schebor Carolina , Zamora María C. , Chirife Jorge 
Published: May 2009

SummaryUse of trehalose as a novel drying aid to produce freeze‐dried strawberry puree was studied and compared with conventional drying aids for fruit purees, namely sucrose and maltodextrin (MD). Glass transition temperature (Tg), colour, sensory profile and consumer preference were determined. Purees dried with MD and/or trehalose presented higher Tg values as compared to sucrose. Sensory evaluation indicated that samples dried with trehalose retained fresh strawberry aroma and flavour, keeping a good sweetness/sourness balance, while puree dried with sucrose was mostly sweet. Addition of MD caused an increase in products visual viscosity and sourness, attributes which were negatively correlated to preference. Trehalose presented several advantages for increasing the quality of freeze dried fruit purees. It raised Tg, gave an adequate sweetness/sourness balance, and allowed a better perception of fresh strawberry flavour.
Multiple colonizations of a remote oceanic archipelago by one species: how common is long‐distance dispersal?
Authors: Shepherd Lara D. , De Lange Peter J. , Perrie Leon R. 
Published: May 2009

AbstractAim  It is well established that many groups of plants and animals have undergone long‐distance dispersal, but the extent to which this continues beyond initial colonization is largely unknown. To provide further insight into the frequency of gene flow mediated by long‐distance dispersal, we investigated the origins of the fern Asplenium hookerianum on the Chatham Islands, and present a review of the contribution of molecular data to elucidating the origins of this archipelago’s biota.Location  Chatham Islands and New Zealand. A. hookerianum is scarce on the Chatham Islands but common in New Zealand, some 800 km to the west.Methods  We compared chloroplast trnL–trnF DNA sequence data from Chatham Islands’A. hookerianum with extensive phylogeographic data for this genetically variable species in mainland New Zealand.Results  Our sequencing revealed the presence of two haplotypes in Chatham Islands’A. hookerianum. These haplotypes differed by four mutational events and were each more closely related to haplotypes found in New Zealand than to each other.Main conclusions  Despite the rarity of A. hookerianum on the Chatham Islands, its populations there appear to derive from at least two long‐distance dispersal events from New Zealand, these possibly originating from different areas. We suggest that long‐distance transoceanic dispersal, and the gene flow it can mediate, may be more common than is generally appreciated.
Galβ1‐6Gal, antigenic epitope which accounts for serological cross‐reaction in diagnosis ofEchinococcus multilocularisinfection
Authors: YAMANO K. , GOTO A. , NAKAMURA‐UCHIYAMA F. , NAWA Y. , HADA N. , TAKEDA T. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryParasitic helminths express various antigenic carbohydrates, which often account for serological cross‐reactions. In serodiagnosis, it is essential to inspect cross‐reactivity between the target parasite and other parasites in order to assess diagnostic performance. Our previous study showed that the Galβ1‐6Gal sequence was a common epitope betweenEchinococcus multilocularis(Em) andE. granulosus(Eg). Furthermore, compounds with this sequence fromFasciola hepatica(Fh) reportedly were recognized by sera with Eg infection. Our aim is to investigate whether this sequence is one of the widely common epitopes in many kinds of parasites. For various parasites, sera with Fh infection cross‐reacted at the highest frequency (71·4%) against Em antigen. In patients with other parasitic infections, sera showed cross‐reactions against Fh antigen bound to Em antigen with a high frequency (23·7%). Binding inhibition tests with commercial Galβ1‐6Gal disaccharide showed that Galβ1‐6Gal was the common epitope between not only Em, Eg and Fh, but also between various other parasites. Furthermore, the presence of the Galβ1‐6Gal epitope in Em antigen was confirmed by immunoblot testing with the specific antibody for this sequence. This study showed that the Galβ1‐6Gal sequence is one of the antigenic epitopes that accounts for serological cross‐reactivity between Em and various other parasites.
Mutator transposon activity reprograms the transcriptomes and proteomes of developing maize anthers
Authors: Skibbe David S. , Fernandes John F. , Medzihradszky Katalin F. , Burlingame Alma L. , Walbot Virginia 
Published: May 2009

SummaryDespite the high conservation of anther gene expression patterns across maize lines, Mu transposition programmed by transcriptionally active MuDR results in a 25% change in the transcriptome, monitored over 90 h of immature anther development, without altering the morphology, anatomy or pace of development. Most transcriptome changes are stage specific: cases of suppression of normal transcripts and ectopic activation are equally represented. Protein abundance changes were validated for numerous metabolic enzymes, and highlight the increased carbon and reactive oxygen management in Mutator anthers. Active Mutator lines appear to experience chronic stress, on a par with abiotic treatments that stimulate early flowering. Despite the diversity of acclimation responses, anther development progresses normally, in contrast to male‐sterile mutants that disrupt anther cell fate or function completely, and cause fewer transcriptome changes. The early flowering phenotype ultimately confers an advantage in Mu element transmission.
Use of reverse‐phase liquid chromatography, linked to tandem mass spectrometry, to profile the Calvin cycle and other metabolic intermediates in Arabidopsis rosettes at different carbon dioxide concentrations
Authors: Arrivault Stéphanie , Guenther Manuela , Ivakov Alexander , Feil Regina , Vosloh Daniel , Van Dongen Joost T. , Sulpice Ronan , Stitt Mark 
Published: May 2009

SummaryA platform using reverse‐phase liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry was developed to measure 28 metabolites from photosynthetic metabolism. It was validated by comparison with authentic standards, with a requirement for distinct and clearly separated peaks, high sensitivity and repeatability in Arabidopsis rosette extracts. The recovery of authentic standards added to the plant material before extraction was 80–120%, demonstrating the reliability of the extraction and analytic procedures. Some metabolites could not be reliably measured, and were extracted and determined by other methods. Measurements of 37 metabolites in Arabidopsis rosettes after 15 min of illumination at different CO2 concentrations showed that most Calvin cycle intermediates remain unaltered, or decrease only slightly (<30%), at compensation point CO2, whereas dedicated metabolites in end‐product synthesis pathways decrease strongly. The inhibition of end‐product synthesis allows high levels of metabolites to be retained in the Calvin cycle to support a rapid cycle with photorespiration.
The analysis of entire gene promoters by surface plasmon resonance
Authors: Moyroud Edwige , Reymond Mathieu C. A. , Hamès Cécile , Parcy François , Scutt Charles P. 
Published: May 2009

SummaryWe demonstrate that the biophysical technique of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis, which has previously been used to measure transcription factor binding to short DNA molecules, can also be used to characterize interactions involving entire gene promoters. This discovery has two main implications that relate, respectively, to novel qualitative and quantitative uses of the SPR technique. Firstly, SPR analysis can be used qualitatively to test the capacity of any transcription factor to interact physically with its putative target genes. This application should prove particularly useful for the confirmation of predicted transcriptional interactions in model species, and for comparative studies of non‐model species in which transcriptional interactions are not amenable to study by other methods. Secondly, SPR may be used quantitatively to characterize interactions between transcription factors and gene promoters containing multiple cis‐acting sites. This application should prove useful for the detailed dissection of promoter function in known target genes. The qualitative and quantitative applications of the SPR analysis of whole promoters combine to make this a uniquely powerful technique, which should prove particularly useful in systems biology, evolutionary developmental biology and various branches of applied biology.
The effect of pneumoperitoneum in the steep Trendelenburg position on cerebral oxygenation
Authors: PARK E. Y. , KOO B.‐N. , MIN K. T. , NAM S. H. 
Published: May 2009

Background: daVinci® robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) requires pneumoperitoneum in the steep Trendelenburg position, which results in increased intracranial pressure and cerebral blood flow. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pneumoperitoneum in a 30° Trendelenburg position on cerebral oxygenation using regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO2).Methods: Thirty‐two male patients of ASA I and II physical status without previous episodes of cerebral ischemia or hemorrhage undergoing daVinci® RALP were enrolled. The rSO2 was continuously monitored with near‐infrared spectroscopy (INVOS® 5100™) during the study period. Measurements were obtained immediately after anesthesia induction (T0; baseline), 5 min after a 30° Trendelenburg position (T1), 5 min after 15 mmHg pneumoperitoneum in a supine position (T2), 30, 60 and 120 min after the pneumoperitoneum in a Trendelenburg position (T3, T4 and T5, respectively) and after desufflation in a supine position (T6).Results: The change in the left and right rSO2 was statistically significant (Left P=0.004 and Right P=0.023). Both the right and the left rSO2 increased significantly during pneumoperitoneum in a Trendelenburg position (from T3 to T5) and at T6 compared with the baseline value at T0. The partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) was increased significantly at T2, T3, T5 and T6 compared with the baseline value at T0.Conclusions: During daVinci® RALP, cerebral oxygenation, as assessed by rSO2, increased slightly, which suggests that the procedure did not induce cerebral ischemia. The PaCO2 should be maintained within the normal limit during pneumoperitoneum in a Trendelenburg position in patients undergoing daVinci® RALP because the rSO2 increased in conjunctions with the increase in PaCO2.