bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Malignant melanoma with preserved hairs: A snap shot could suggest the development from an acquired melanocytic nevus
Authors: KIYOHARA Takahiro , KOURABA Sachio , TAKAHASHI Hidenori , KAWASAKI Takeo , TAKEUCHI Akiteru , KUMAKIRI Masanobu 
Published: February 2010

AbstractA 63‐year‐old man presented with a dome‐shaped, black nodule on his right forehead, where hairs were preserved. The black surface tone measured 7 mm in diameter and spread irregularly from the periphery of the nodule. He had been conscious of the preceding, black macule for approximately 50 years. A snap shot of the patient in adolescence showed a tiny, black macule, which was a few millimeters in diameter. Histological examination demonstrated irregular proliferation of melanoma cells from the epidermis to the dermis. Partially, there were well‐circumscribed, oval nests composed of nevus cells in the acanthotic epidermis and follicles. Nevus cells were also seen in the dermal component, presenting a burnt‐out appearance. In this case, the small final size, the preserved hairs and the snap shot suggested a preceding, acquired melanocytic nevus. Malignant melanoma could arise from acquired melanocytic nevus.
Secondary cutaneous candidiasis with eosinophilia
Authors: TSUNEMI Yuichiro , KADONO Takafumi , SAEKI Hidehisa , KIKUCHI Kanako , TAMAKI Kunihiko , SATO Shinichi 
Published: February 2010

AbstractCutaneous candidiasis is a common skin infection caused by the Candida species, especially in intertriginous areas, and neutrophils usually infiltrate histopathologically. We describe a case of secondary cutaneous candidiasis which spread extensively to the trunk and extremities and showed marked dermal eosinophilia. This case and a similar reported case suggest that Candida can sometimes cause cutaneous inflammation predominantly composed of eosinophils.
Land snail species richness and diversity in Idanre hills, Ondo State, Nigeria
Authors: Christopher Oke Omamoke , Joseph Chokor Utienyi 
Published: February 2010

AbstractThe land snail community of Idanre hills was studied using a combination of direct search and leaf litter‐sieving techniques. In total, 36 species and 2192 individuals in nine molluscan families were collected from 19 plots of 400 m2 each. Species richness varied from 8 to 23 and the number of individuals from 21 to 566 per plot. Species richness was dominated by the carnivorous Streptaxidae, while numerical abundance was dominated by the Subulinidae, Streptaxidae and Urocyclidae, contributing to more than 95% of the total number of individuals. The single most abundant species was the urocyclid Trochozonites talcosus, contributing to almost 20% of the total number of individuals. The species richness and high abundance of land snails make Idanre hills a unique site for molluscan conservation in Nigeria.
Size–abundance relationships in Florida ant communities reveal how ants break the energetic equivalence rule
Authors: KING JOSHUA R. 
Published: February 2010

1. Ants are among the most abundant terrestrial organisms, yet little is known of how ant communities divide resources because it is difficult to measure the number of individuals in colonies and the density of colonies.2. The body size–abundance relationships of the ants of five upland ecosystems in Florida were examined. The study tested whether abundance, energy use, and total biomass were distributed among species and body sizes as predicted by Damuth's energetic equivalence rule. Estimates of average worker body size, colony size, colony mass, and field metabolic rates were used to examine the relationships among body sizes, energy use, and total biomass.3. Analyses revealed significant variation in energy use and did not support the energetic equivalence hypothesis. Specifically, the energy use and total standing biomass of species with large workers and colonies was much greater than smaller species.4. These results suggest that larger species with larger colonies account for a disproportionate fraction of the total abundance and biomass of ants. A general model of resource allocation in colonies provides a possible explanation for why ants do not conform to the predictions of the energetic equivalence rule and for why ants are so abundant.
Determination of shale stiffness tensor from standard logs
Authors: Chesnokov Evgeni , Bayuk Irina O. , Ammerman Mike 
Published: February 2010

ABSTRACTA technique allowing inversion of the shale stiffness tensor from standard logging data: sonic velocities, density, porosity and clay content is developed. The inversion is based on the effective medium theory. The testing of the technique on laboratory measurements of the elastic wave velocities in shale samples shows that the inversion makes it possible to predict the elastic wave velocitiesVP,VS1andVS2in any direction within an error of a few per cent.The technique has been applied for the stiffness tensor inversion along a well penetrating a shale formation of the Mississippian age altered by thin layers of limestone. It is demonstrated that the symmetry of a stiffness tensor inverted at the sonic frequency (2 kHz) is slightly orthorhombic and taking into account the experimental errors, can be related to the vertical transverse isotropy symmetry. For the productive interval of the shale formation, the Thomsen parameters ɛ, γ, and δ average, respectively, 0.32, 0.25 and 0.21, which indicate anelliptic behaviour of the velocities in this shale. The coefficients of anisotropy of this shale interval are around 24% and 20% for the compressional and shear waves, respectively. The values of the inverted velocities in the bedding plane for this interval are in good agreement with the laboratory measurements. The technique also allows inversion of the water saturation of the formation (Sw) and the inverted values are in agreement with theSwvalues available for this formation.A Backus‐like upscaling of the inverted stiffness tensors is carried out for the lower and upper bounds of the frequency band used in the crosswell tomography (100 Hz and 500 Hz). These results can serve as an initial velocity model for the microearthquake location during hydrofracking of the shale formation.
Drivers of diversity in Macaronesian spiders and the role of species extinctions
Authors: Cardoso Pedro , Arnedo Miquel A. , Triantis Kostas A. , Borges Paulo A. V. 
Published: February 2010

AbstractAim  To identify the biogeographical factors underlying spider species richness in the Macaronesian region and assess the importance of species extinctions in shaping the current diversity.Location  The European archipelagos of Macaronesia with an emphasis on the Azores and Canary Islands.Methods  Seven variables were tested as predictors of single‐island endemics (SIE), archipelago endemics and indigenous spider species richness in the Azores, Canary Islands and Macaronesia as a whole: island area; geological age; maximum elevation; distance from mainland; distance from the closest island; distance from an older island; and natural forest area remaining per island – a measure of deforestation (the latter only in the Azores). Different mathematical formulations of the general dynamic model of oceanic island biogeography (GDM) were also tested.Results  Island area and the proportion of remaining natural forest were the best predictors of species richness in the Azores. In the Canary Islands, area alone did not explain the richness of spiders. However, a hump‐shaped relationship between richness and time was apparent in these islands. The island richness in Macaronesia was correlated with island area, geological age, maximum elevation and distance to mainland.Main conclusions  In Macaronesia as a whole, area, island age, the large distance that separates the Azores from the mainland, and the recent disappearance of native habitats with subsequent unrecorded extinctions seem to be the most probable explanations for the current observed richness. In the Canary Islands, the GDM model is strongly supported by many genera that radiated early, reached a peak at intermediate island ages, and have gone extinct on older, eroded islands. In the Azores, the unrecorded extinctions of many species in the oldest, most disturbed islands seem to be one of the main drivers of the current richness patterns. Spiders, the most important terrestrial predators on these islands, may be acting as early indicators for the future disappearance of other insular taxa.
Outcrossing rate in sweet passion fruit based on molecular markers
Authors: Ferreira T. G. T. , Penha H. A. , Zucchi M. I. , Santos A. A. , Hanai L. R. , Junqueira N. , Braga M. F. , Vencovsky R. , Vieira M. L. C. 
Published: February 2010

With 3 tables AbstractYellow and sweet passion fruit are insect‐pollinated species native to the tropics. Fruits are used commercially for human consumption worldwide. The yellow passion fruit is an outcrossing species with self‐incompatible flowers. However, the reproductive system of the sweet passion fruit (Passiflora alata) has not been well elucidated. The objective of this work was to characterize aspects of the mating system in the sweet passion fruit using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and microsatellite markers, particularly the rate of outcrossing in P. alata progenies. A multilocus outcrossing rate of tm = 0.994 was determined from RAPD and tm = 0.940 from microsatellites, supporting P. alata as an outcrossing species. The fixation indices of the maternal generation (Fm) were −0.200 and 0.071 with RAPD and microsatellite loci, respectively, indicating the absence of inbreeding in the maternal generation. The paternity correlation (rp) varied from −0.008 with RAPD markers to 0.208 with microsatellite markers, suggesting a low probability of finding full sibs within the progenies. The results demonstrated that all progenies assessed in this study were derived from outcrossing.
Interferon‐α suppressed granulocyte colony stimulating factor production is reversed by CL097, a TLR7/8 agonist
Authors: Tajuddin Tariq , Ryan Elizabeth J , Norris Suzanne , Hegarty John E , O'Farrelly Cliona 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim: Neutropenia, a major side‐effect of interferon‐α (IFN‐α) therapy can be effectively treated by the recombinant form of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G‐CSF), an important growth factor for neutrophils. We hypothesized that IFN‐α might suppress G‐CSF production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), contributing to the development of neutropenia, and that a toll‐like receptor (TLR) agonist might overcome this suppression.Methods: Fifty‐five patients who were receiving IFN‐α/ribavirin combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection were recruited. Absolute neutrophil counts (ANC), monocyte counts and treatment outcome data were recorded. G‐CSF levels in the supernatants of PBMCs isolated from the patients and healthy controls were assessed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay following 18 h of culture in the absence or presence of IFN‐ α or the TLR7/8 agonist, CL097.Results: Therapeutic IFN‐α caused a significant reduction in neutrophil counts in all patients, with 15 patients requiring therapeutic G‐CSF. The reduction in ANC over the course of IFN‐α treatment was paralleled by a decrease in the ability of PBMCs to produce G‐CSF.In vitroG‐CSF production by PBMCs was suppressed in the presence of IFN‐α; however, co‐incubation with a TLR7/8 agonist significantly enhanced G‐CSF secretion by cells obtained both from HCV patients and healthy controls.Conclusions: Suppressed G‐CSF production in the presence of IFN‐α may contribute to IFN‐α‐induced neutropenia. However, a TLR7/8 agonist elicits G‐CSF secretion even in the presence of IFN‐α, suggesting a possible therapeutic role for TLR agonists in treatment of IFN‐α‐induced neutropenia.
Divergent effects of irritants on the gastric mucosa in rats during various stages after bile duct ligation
Authors: Ackerman Zvi , Karmeli Fanny , Pappo Orit 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim: Controversy exists as to whether rats after bile duct ligation (BDL) are more susceptible to gastric mucosal damage (GMD) induced by irritants. In the present study we characterize GMD after intragastric instillation of either ethanol or hydrochloric acid (HCL), 3 and 21 days after the surgical procedure.Methods: Bile duct ligation and sham operated (SO) rats were studied.Results: Three days after surgery, BDL rats exhibited a reduction in gastric mucosal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity but an increase in ethanol‐induced GMD. Twenty‐one days after surgery gastric mucosal prostaglandin (PG) E2generation in BDL rats was increased while NOS activity in both groups was similar. Ethanol‐induced GMD in SO rats was higher. Pretreatment with NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester, prior to ethanol administration was associated with an increase in gastric mucosal PGE2generation: (147% in SO and 104% in BDL rats) and in GMD (176% in SO and 303% in BDL rats).HCL induced GMD was of similar magnitude in both groups in both time periods.Conclusions: The gastric resistance to damage by irritants in rats with BDL is not a static phenomenon. This may result from sequential changes that occur in the gastric mucosal defense mechanisms during the evolution of liver disease.
Optimal treatment increased survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients detected with community‐based screening
Authors: Tseng Po‐Lin , Wang Jing‐Houng , Tung Hung‐Da , Hung Chao‐Hung , Kee Kwong‐Ming , Chen Chien‐Hung , Chang Kuo‐Chin , Lee Chuan‐Mo , Changchien Chi‐Sin , Chen Pao‐Fei , Tsai Lin‐San , Lu Sheng‐Nan 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  The early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and opportunity to select appropriate treatment are important benefits of HCC screening. Our aim in the present study was to investigate the survival rate, prognostic factors and treatment effects in HCC patients of community‐based screening.Methods:  Community‐based ultrasound (US) screening for HCC in adults with platelet counts (< 150 × 103/mm3) and/or alpha fetoprotein (AFP) > 20 ng/mL was conducted in 2002 and 2004. As per the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage, 90 cases of intermediate or earlier stage HCC were detected and 88 cases had sufficient information for analysis (49 men and 39 women, aged 65.8 ± 9.6 years). The tumor diameter was mostly less than 5 cm (76.1%). The follow up was continued until June 2008.Results:  The 4‐year overall survival rate was 46.8%. Old age (≥ 70 years) (P = 0.046), later stage of HCC (intermediate vs earlier) (P = 0.012), low platelet count (< 100 × 103/mm3) (P = 0.013) and refusal of modern treatment (P = 0.026) were independent poor prognostic factors. Curative treatment increased survival in patients of all ages. Both curative treatment and transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) increased survival in cases of intermediate HCC. However, treatment benefits were not found for patients with (very) early stage HCC.Conclusions:  Early detection and prompt treatment of HCC leads to increased survival. For elderly patients this benefit was seen only for early stage cases receiving curative treatment. Differences between treatment types for patients with (very) early stage HCC might emerge with a longer follow‐up period.
Anti‐cancer activity of anti‐p185HER‐2 ricin A chain immunotoxin on gastric cancer cells
Authors: Zhou Xin‐Xin , Ji Feng , Zhao Jing‐Li , Cheng Lin‐Fang , Xu Cheng‐Fu 
Published: February 2010

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Overexpression of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER‐2) protein has been detected in gastric cancer and has been associated with an unfavorable prognosis. We investigated the anti‐cancer effects of anti‐p185HER‐2 ricin A chain (RTA) immunotoxin, alone or in combination with 5‐flurouracil on SGC7901‐HER‐2+ cells.Methods:  SGC7901‐HER‐2+ cells were obtained by transfecting SGC7901 cells with HER‐2‐pcDNA3.1. Anti‐p185HER‐2‐RTA was prepared by chemical conjugation of anti‐HER‐2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and RTA. The SGC7901‐HER‐2+ cells were incubated with RTA, anti‐p185HER‐2‐RTA, and/or 5‐flurouracil. The effects of drugs on cells were evaluated by MTT assay and Annexin V‐fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide double staining flow cytometry. The expression of caspase‐3, caspase‐9, cyclooxygenase‐2, and nuclear factor‐κB/p65 were assayed by western blot. SGC7901‐HER‐2+ cells were transplanted into BALB/c nude mice to produce solid tumors in an attempt to study the immunotoxin activity in vivo.Results:  In vitro, anti‐p185HER‐2‐RTA inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in SGC7901‐HER‐2+ cells. Anti‐p185HER‐2‐RTA enhanced caspase‐3 and caspase‐9 activity, while downregulating the expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 and nuclear factor‐κB/p65. Its combination with 5‐flurouracil further inhibited the growth of SGC7901‐HER‐2+ cells. In vivo, our data showed that anti‐p185HER‐2‐RTA significantly inhibited the growth of SGC7901‐HER‐2+ cells‐transplanted tumors.Conclusions:  Anti‐p185HER‐2‐RTA inhibits the growth of SGC7901‐HER‐2+ cells. The effect may be related to the activation of caspase‐3 and caspase‐9 and inhibition of cyclooxygenase‐2 and nuclear factor‐κB/p65. Anti‐p185HER‐2‐RTA plus 5‐FU enhance anti‐cancer activity, suggesting useful clues for further study for the treatment of HER‐2 positive gastric cancers.
Insulin detemir is a fully efficacious, low affinity agonist at the insulin receptor
Authors: Sørensen A. R. , Stidsen C. E. , Ribel U. , Nishimura E. , Sturis J. , Jonassen I. , Bouman S. D. , Kurtzhals P. , Brand C. L. 
Published: February 2010

Aim: To compare the properties of insulin detemir with human insulin or insulin aspart in various in vitro and in vivo experiments, thereby highlighting the importance of performing dose–response studies when investigating insulin analogues, in this study specifically insulin detemir. Methods: Displacement of membrane‐associated insulin receptors from human and rat hepatocytes, and from Chinese Hamster Ovary cells over‐expressing human insulin receptor (CHO‐hIR) at varying albumin concentrations is measured. Lipogenesis in primary rat adipocytes over time and the effects in the simultaneous presence of insulin detemir and human insulin or insulin aspart are assessed. The hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp technique in rats is used to establish dose–response curves for multiple metabolic endpoints and to investigate the effects of the simultaneous presence of insulin detemir and human insulin. Results: Both in vitro and in vivo, insulin detemir shows full efficacy and right‐shifted parallel dose–response curves compared with human insulin. The potency estimates are different between the in vivo and in vitro conditions and among different in vitro conditions, that is the potency decreases in vitro with increasing albumin concentration. The effects of insulin detemir and human insulin are additive both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: Insulin detemir is fully efficacious compared with human insulin on all metabolic endpoints measured in vitro and in vivo. The fact that the potency estimates are method‐dependent emphasizes the importance of establishing full dose–response relationships when characterizing insulin detemir.
The cost‐effectiveness of solifenacin vs fesoterodine, oxybutynin immediate‐release, propiverine, tolterodine extended‐release and tolterodine immediate‐release in the treatment of patients with overactive bladder in the UK National Health Service
Authors: Cardozo Linda , Thorpe Andrew , Warner Juliet , Sidhu Manpreet 
Published: February 2010

OBJECTIVEPlease also see BJUI letters on page 586To assess the cost‐effectiveness of solifenacin vs other antimuscarinic strategies commonly used in UK clinical practice, based on the results of a recent published review.METHODSOveractive bladder (OAB) syndrome is characterized by symptoms of urgency, frequency, incontinence and nocturia. Pharmacological treatment comprises oral antimuscarinic agents, which are divided into older‐generation treatments, including oxybutynin, and new‐generation treatments, comprising solifenacin, tolterodine, darifenacin and fesoterodine. The latter have reduced central nervous system penetration and have better selectivity for the M3 subclass of acetylcholine receptors, resulting in improved tolerability. A recent systematic review and meta‐analysis of the efficacy and safety of antimuscarinics provided an opportunity for an economic evaluation of these agents using a rigorous assessment of efficacy. A cost‐utility analysis was undertaken using a 1‐year decision‐tree model. Treatment success was defined separately for urgency, frequency and incontinence, with efficacy data taken from the recent review. Treatment persistence rates were taken from the Information Management System database. Utility values for the calculation of quality‐adjusted life‐years (QALYs) were taken from published sources. The analysis included costs directly associated with treatment for OAB, i.e. antimuscarinic therapy, consultations with general practitioners, and outpatient contacts. Resource use was based on expert opinion. Costs were reported at 2007/2008 prices. Extensive deterministic and probabilistic analyses were conducted to test the robustness of the base‐case results.RESULTSSolifenacin was associated with the highest QALY gains (per 1000 patients) for all three outcomes of interest, i.e. urgency (712.3), frequency (723.1) and incontinence (695.0). Solifenacin was dominant relative to fesoterodine, tolterodine extended‐release (ER) and tolterodine immediate‐release (IR), and cost‐effective relative to propiverine ER for urgency, frequency and incontinence. Solifenacin was not found to be cost‐effective relative to oxybutynin IR for the frequency and incontinence outcomes, with an incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio of >£30 000/QALY threshold.CONCLUSIONSSolifenacin provided the greatest clinical benefit and associated QALYs for all three outcomes of interest across all therapies considered, and to be either dominant or cost‐effective relative to all other new‐generation agents, but not cost‐effective relative to oxybutynin for frequency and incontinence.
Extended vs standard pelvic lymphadenectomy during laparoscopic radical prostatectomy for intermediate‐ and high‐risk prostate cancer
Authors: Eden Christopher G. , Arora Avanish , Rouse Paul 
Published: February 2010

Study Type – Therapy (case series) Level of Evidence 4OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of extended vs standard pelvic lymphadenectomy (sPLND) for patients with intermediate‐ and high‐risk prostate cancer undergoing laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP).PATIENTS AND METHODSOf a total of 1269 patients who underwent LRP during a 109 month period, 374 (30%) had a PLND; 253 men had a sPLND (2000 to March 2008) and 121 had an extended PLND (ePLND; after April 2008) for intermediate‐ or high‐risk prostate cancer. An extraperitoneal approach was used in all patients having sPLND and a transperitoneal approach in patients having ePLND.RESULTSPatient age, body mass index, gland weight, prostate‐specific antigen level and Gleason grade were similar in the two groups. The ePLND group had a greater proportion of patients with cT3 disease (9.9% vs 4.2%, P = 0.046) and was associated with a longer operating time of 206.5 vs 180.0 min (P < 0.001) and a higher node count of 17.5 vs 6.1 (P = 0.002). Blood loss, hospital stay, transfusion and complication rates were similar in the two groups. Lymph node positivity was significantly greater (P = 0.018) in patients with pathological Gleason grade 7 tumours who had ePLND (9.6% vs 1.0%) but was similar for other grades of tumour.CONCLUSIONBased on these findings, and the results of other studies which show a reduction of prostate cancer‐specific mortality of 23% if lymph nodes are positive and 15% if they are negative after ePLND, and the correlation between surgical experience, lymph node yield and positivity, we recommend that all patients undergo ePLND if they are being treated with curative intent for intermediate‐ and high‐risk prostate cancer; ePLND should replace sPLND and surgeons performing <35 cases of RP a year should stop performing RP.