bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lucio's phenomenon: a report of three cases seen in Johor, Malaysia
Authors: Choon Siew Eng , Tey Kwee Eng 
Published: August 2009

AbstractBackground  Lucio's phenomenon is a rare and aggressive necrotising variant of erythema nodosum leprosum that classically occur in patients with undiagnosed, diffuse non‐nodular lepromatous leprosy. It is a potentially fatal leprosy reaction characterised by extensive, bizarrely‐shaped, painful purpuric skin lesions and ulcerations. Lucio's phenomenon is very rarely reported outside of Mexico and Costa Rica.Methods  We describe 3 cases seen in Johor, Malaysia.Results  The first two cases responded to the prompt simultaneous institution of daily rifampicin, dapsone, clofazimine and prednisolone. Case 3 continued to have new lesions and extension of existing lesions while on dapsone and clofazimine. The subsequent addition of rifampicin and prednisolone prevented new lesion formation but patient succumbed to the extensive cutaneous infarcts and consequent sepsis.Conclusions  Early diagnosis and prompt institution of multi‐drug therapy together with prednisolone may improve the prognosis and outcome of Lucio's phenomenon.
Disseminated strongyloidiasis in immunocompromised patients – report of three cases
Authors: Galimberti Ricardo , Pontón Anahí , Zaputovich Fatima Agüero , Velasquez Lorna , Galimberti Gaston , Torre Ana , Kowalczuk Alicia 
Published: August 2009

AbstractBackground  Strongyloides stercoralis is an intestinal nematode of humans. The characteristic cutaneous manifestation of strongyloidiasis is larva currens. Patients with suppressed immunity can develop a severe disseminated strongyloidiasis involving wide spread of the larvae to extraintestinal organs, outside the usual migration pattern. Patients with cell‐mediated immunodeficiency and on corticosteroid therapy appear to be at highest risk for the development of this highly fatal entity.Methods  We present three patients with disseminated strongyloidiasis. All patients were immunocompromised and were undergoing corticosteroid therapy. Physical examination revealed a rapidly progressive purpuric petechial eruption with a reticulated pattern, mainly over the abdomen.Results  The histopathologic findings of the skin biopsies revealed a purpuric lymphomonocytic vasculitis that compromised the superficial dermis. In one skin biopsy, a larva was identified. None of our patients had eosinophilia. Strongyloides stercoralis was isolated in the fluid of the three patients, either before or after they died.Conclusion  The risk of disseminated strongyloidiasis in patients with impaired cell‐mediated immunity is unknown; however, given the poor prognosis of disseminated strongyloidiasis, consideration should be given to the screening of patients at increased risk of infection.
Sweet's syndrome: a retrospective study of 42 admitted patients in a Portuguese hospital
Authors: Borges da Costa João , Silva Raquel , Soares de Almeida Luís , Filipe Paulo , Marques Gomes Manuel 
Published: August 2009

AbstractBackground  Sweet's syndrome is the most common neutrophilic dermatosis, but its pathophysiology is still largely unknown and different subgroups can be defined.Objectives  To assess the clinical/laboratory factors in a series of patients with Sweet's syndrome and search for significant differences between defined subgroups.Methods  A retrospective study of inpatient files with this diagnosis was made, and patients were included if they fulfilled the classical diagnostic criteria. Data were analyzed with the SPSS package, with a significance level of 5%.Results  Forty‐two patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, with a median age of 50 years. Females comprised 88% of patients, and disease onset occurred in autumn or spring in over 70% of cases. A previous oropharyngeal infection was described by 38% of patients, and a previous or concomitantly diagnosed neoplasm by 10%. In contrast with the literature, the lower extremities were also involved in the majority of patients, and arthralgia was the most frequent extracutaneous manifestation. On bivariate analysis, in patients who reported a previous oropharyngeal infection, the lesions were significantly more frequent in autumn, and a shorter inpatient stay as well as a lower temperature on admission and lower prevalence of arthralgia were observed in the same group.Conclusions  The subgroup of patients with a previous oropharyngeal infection had a less severe form of this syndrome.
Onychomycosis infections in the Middle Black Sea Region, Turkey
Authors: Yenişehirli Gülgün , Bulut Yunus , Sezer Engin , Günday Ebru 
Published: August 2009

AbstractBackground  Onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nail, is caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, and nondermatophyte molds. The causative pathogen and incidence of onychomycosis depend on age, gender, geographic and climatic conditions, living habits, and immune status of the host.Aim  To determine the incidence and etiologic agents of onychomycosis in the Middle Black Sea Region, Turkey.Methods  Two hundred and seventy‐six specimens were collected from patients with suspected onychomycosis during January 2004 to May 2008.Results  Culture positivity was obtained in 240 of the 276 samples. Dermatophytes were isolated in 225 samples. The most common causative agent of onychomycosis was Trichophyton rubrum (91) (38%), followed by Trichophyton mentagrophytes (49) (20.4%), Epidermophyton floccosum (41) (17%), and Trichophyton verrucosum (34) (14.2%). Seven isolates were identified as yeasts (2.9%). Nondermatophyte molds were isolated from eight samples (3.3%).Conclusions  This survey reveals that the etiologic agents of onychomycosis in our area show large discrepancies from those in other regions of Turkey and Europe.
Why health expectations and hopes are different: the development of a conceptual model
Authors: Leung Karen K. , Silvius James L. , Pimlott Nicholas , Dalziel William , Drummond Neil 
Published: August 2009

AbstractBackground In the literature, ‘hope’ has often been thought of as an ideal expectation. However, we believe the classification of hope as a type of expectation is problematic. Although both hopes and expectations are future‐oriented cognitions, expectations are distinct in that they are an individual’s probability‐driven assessment of the most likely outcomes, while hopes are an assessment of the most desirable – but not necessarily the most probable – outcomes.Aim This paper presents a conceptual model of the factors that may serve as common antecedents of hopes and expectations, and a mechanism that may mediate their differentiation.Method Ovid Healthstar and PsycINFO database searches from January 1967 to October 2008 were conducted. An integrative literature review, synthesis and conceptual model development were carried out.Outcome Our model envisages the differentiation of hope from expectation as a dynamic, longitudinal process consisting of three phases: appraisal of possible outcomes, cognitive analysis for achieving hopes and goal pursuit. Key variables such as temporal proximity, controllability, external resources, goals, affect, agency and pathways may moderate the extent of divergence by influencing the perceived probability of achieving desired outcomes.Conclusion Hopes and expectations are distinct, but linked, constructs. This preliminary conceptual model presents how hopes and expectations develop, become differentiated and how social‐cognitive factors may moderate this relationship. A better understanding of hopes and expectations may assist health professionals in communicating illness‐related expectations while maintaining the integrity of patient hopes.
De novo phyllodes tumor in an adolescent female after liver transplantation
Authors: Cheng Feng , Qin Jian‐jie , Yu Mei‐ning , Zhang Feng , Li Xiang‐cheng , Sun Bei‐cheng , Kong Lian‐bao , Wang Xue‐hao 
Published: August 2009

Cheng F, Qin J‐J, Yu M‐N, Zhang F, Li X‐C, Sun B‐C, Kong L‐B, Wang X‐H. De novo phyllodes tumor in an adolescent female after liver transplantation. Pediatr Transplantation 2011: 15:E12–E14. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Abstract:  Phyllodes tumor of the breast is a rare disease constituting 0.3–0.9% of all breast neoplasms. Occurring mainly in females aged 35 to 55 yr, the disease is especially rare among adolescent females. There is no published literature about de novo phyllodes tumor after liver transplantation. Here we describe a case of de novo phyllodes tumors in an adolescent female after liver transplantation from a living donor for Wilson disease.
Light‐dependent growth and proteorhodopsin expression by Flavobacteria and SAR11 in experiments with Delaware coastal waters
Authors: Lami Raphaël , Cottrell Matthew T. , Campbell Barbara J. , Kirchman David L. 
Published: August 2009

SummaryProteorhodopsin (PR)‐containing bacteria are hypothesized to use both light and organic compounds as energy sources. Recent studies have found that PR is common in marine microorganisms, but the impact of light on the growth of PR‐containing organisms and PR transcription in the environment remains unclear. We examined the diversity of PR genes and transcripts by PCR amplification and sequencing in Delaware coastal waters. Clone libraries of PR DNA and cDNA (from mRNA) revealed large differences between bacterial groups in expression of PR genes. We then evaluated by quantitative PCR the impact of light on growth and PR expression in PR‐containing SAR11 bacteria (SAR11‐PR) and a population of Flavobacteria (Flavobacteria‐PR). This experiment was conducted in 30 l microcosms exposed to continuous light, continuous dark, and 12 h−12 h dark–light cycles for 5 days. We found a strong upregulation of PR expression by light in Flavobacteria‐PR and SAR11‐PR. The abundance of PR transcripts per PR cell was enhanced up to 120‐fold under continuous light and up to 20‐fold under dark–light cycles while continuous darkness led to very low levels of PR mRNA. This upregulation of PR expression was correlated with the abundance of PR genes, indicating net growth of SAR11‐PR cells and Flavobacteria‐PR under dark–light cycles. SAR11‐PR and Flavobacteria‐PR abundance decreased under continuous light despite upregulation of PR expression, and continuous darkness led to low abundances of both populations. Collectively, these data suggest that light affects growth of PR‐containing bacteria and regulation of PR mRNA synthesis in natural communities.
The role of interactions between phage and bacterial proteins within the infected cell: a diverse and puzzling interactome
Authors: Roucourt Bart , Lavigne Rob 
Published: August 2009

SummaryInteractions between bacteriophage proteins and bacterial proteins are important for efficient infection of the host cell. The phage proteins involved in these bacteriophage–host interactions are often produced immediately after infection. A survey of the available set of published bacteriophage–host interactions reveals the targeted host proteins are inhibited, activated or functionally redirected by the phage protein. These interactions protect the bacteriophage from bacterial defence mechanisms or adapt the host‐cell metabolism to establish an efficient infection cycle. Regrettably, a large majority of bacteriophage early proteins lack any identified function. Recent research into the antibacterial potential of bacteriophage–host interactions indicates that phage early proteins seem to target a wide variety of processes in the host cell – many of them non‐essential. Since a clear understanding of such interactions may become important for regulations involving phage therapy and in biotechnological applications, increased scientific emphasis on the biological elucidation of such proteins is warranted.
Performance of HbA1c for detecting newly diagnosed diabetes and pre‐diabetes in Chinese communities living in Beijing
Authors: Zhou X. H. , Ji L. N. , Luo Y. Y. , Zhang X. Y. , Han X. Y. , Qiao Q. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractAim  To determine the performance of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) as a screening tool for detecting newly diagnosed diabetes (NDM) and pre‐diabetes.Methods  A diabetes survey was conducted in Beijing among community dwellers who were willing to participate in the survey. Included in the survey were 903 individuals aged 21–79 years without previously diagnosed diabetes and in whom HbA1c and other required covariates had been measured. NDM and pre‐diabetes (impaired glucose tolerance + impaired fasting glucose) were defined according to the World Health Organization 1999 criteria based on 75‐g oral glucose tolerance test. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was plotted to determine the performance of HbA1c.Results  The prevalence of NDM and pre‐diabetes was 11.1% and 22.4%, respectively. At an optimal HbA1c cut‐off point of ≥ 6.0%, the test gave a sensitivity of 80.0% and a specificity of 89.8% for diagnosing NDM; at an optimal cut‐off point of ≥ 5.7%, the sensitivity was 59.4% and specificity 73.9% for diagnosing pre‐diabetes. Individuals with HbA1c≥ 6.0% tended to be more obese than those with HbA1c < 6.0%, but blood pressure and lipid profiles did not differ between the two groups.Conclusions  HbA1c as a single screening test is adequate to detect newly diagnosed diabetes but is not able to identify pre‐diabetes in this obese Chinese population.
Increasing trend in the prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and pre‐diabetes in the Chinese rural and urban population in Qingdao, China
Authors: Gao W. G. , Dong Y. H. , Pang Z. C. , Nan H. R. , Zhang L. , Wang S. J. , Ren J. , Ning F. , Qiao Q. ,   for the Qingdao 2006 Diabetes Survey Group
Published: August 2009

AbstractAims  To determine the secular trend of prevalence of Type 2 diabetes and pre‐diabetes in a Chinese population from 2001 to 2006.Methods  Two consecutive population‐based surveys for diabetes were conducted in a randomly selected population aged 35–74 years and living in Qingdao, China in 2001–2002 (n = 10854) and 2006 (n = 4416). All participants underwent standardized 2‐h 75‐g oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs), along with fasting capillary plasma glucose (FCG) tests in 2006. One urban community underwent OGTTs directly in 2002 (n = 1815), while a two‐step screening strategy using FCG as a first‐line screening test followed by OGTTs was used in 9039 individuals in 2001. Diabetes and pre‐diabetes was defined according to the 2006 World Health Organization/International Diabetes Federation criteria.Results  Based on the results of direct OGTTs, the age‐standardized prevalence of diabetes and pre‐diabetes in urban areas was 12.2 and 15.4% in 2002, whereas the prevalences were 18.8 and 28.7% in urban areas and 14.1 and 20.2% in rural areas in 2006 (P < 0.001, in urban areas). Using the two‐step screening strategy, the prevalence of diabetes in 2001 was 10.1% in urban and 7.7% in rural areas and 13.8% in urban and 12.2% in rural areas in 2006 (P < 0.001). Based on the data of the 2006 survey, the two‐step screening strategy missed 30.2% of diabetes cases when compared with the number defined by the direct OGTT approach.Conclusions  Qingdao has experienced a marked increase in the prevalence of diabetes and pre‐diabetes in the past 5 years. Intervention to prevent a further increase in the prevalence of diabetes is urgently required.
Efficacy and safety of insulin glargine and glimepiride in subjects with Type 2 diabetes before, during and after the period of fasting in Ramadan
Authors: Salti I. ,   on behalf of the Diabetes and Ramadan Study Group
Published: August 2009

AbstractAims  To determine the safety and efficacy of insulin glargine and glimepiride in patients with Type 2 diabetes before and after Ramadan and during fasting for Ramadan.Methods  In this open, descriptive, multi‐centre, prospective study, insulin‐naïve (n = 100) or previously insulin‐treated (n = 249) patients with Type 2 diabetes received insulin glargine [titrated from 10 U daily according to fasting blood glucose (FBG)] and glimepiride (4 mg daily). The number and type of hypoglycaemic episodes and glycaemic control were assessed before, during and after Ramadan. Bivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors which predicted hypoglycaemia during Ramadan.Results  Only one episode of severe hypoglycaemia occurred in each time period before, during and after Ramadan. Mild hypoglycaemic episodes increased from 156 pre‐Ramadan to 346 during Ramadan (P < 0.001) and decreased to 153 post‐Ramadan (P = 0.0002).The increase during Ramadan was mainly attributed to increased symptomatic hypoglycaemic episodes. FBG and glycated haemoglobin improved during the titration period and did not change during the rest of the study. Risk of hypoglycaemic events during Ramadan was higher in countries where fasting is strict [odds ratio (OR) 3.69 (2.06–6.63), P < 0.0001]. Lower weight [< 70.0 kg; OR 2.56 (1.46–4.48), P = 0.001] and waist circumference [< 90 cm; OR 3.06 (1.62–5.78), P = 0.001] increased the risk of hypoglycaemia during Ramadan whilst FBG > 6.7 mmol/l [OR 0.3 (0.17–0.54), P < 0.0001] had a protective effect.Conclusions  Combination of insulin glargine and glimepiride may be used during Ramadan in patients with Type 2 diabetes who wish to fast, provided glimepiride is given at the time of breaking the fast and insulin glargine titrated to provide FBG > 6.7 mmol/l.
Which people with Type 2 diabetes achieve good control of intermediate outcomes? Population database study in a UK region
Authors: Guthrie B. , Emslie‐Smith A. , Morris A. D. 
Published: August 2009

AbstractAims  To measure quality of vascular risk factor measurement and control in people with Type 2 diabetes after comprehensive pay‐for‐performance implementation and to examine variation by patient and practice characteristics.Methods  Multi‐level regression analysis of 10 191 patients with Type 2 diabetes registered with 59 practices in the Tayside region. Quality measures examined were recording of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), blood pressure (BP), cholesterol and smoking status in the last 12 months; achievement of recommended intermediate outcome targets (HbA1c≤ 7.4%, BP < 140/80 mmHg, cholesterol ≤ 5.0 mmol/l, not smoking); and simple and all‐or‐none composite measures.Results  Ninety‐five per cent of all recommended processes were received by patients, with 88% of patients receiving all four. Half of all intermediate outcomes targets were achieved, but only 16% of patients achieved all four targets. Process and outcome of care were consistently worse for 1523 (15.0%) patients aged < 55 years. HbA1c and BP targets were progressively less likely to be achieved as body mass index increased. Women were less likely to achieve cholesterol targets, but apart from smoking status, there were no associations with socio‐economic status.Conclusion  Under comprehensive pay‐for‐performance, process of care is remarkably reliable, but intermediate outcome control less so. Previously identified socio‐economic variations in diabetes care have been largely eliminated, but gender inequality is persistent. Younger people were considerably less likely to achieve intermediate outcome targets. Mitigating increased vascular risk in younger patients with Type 2 diabetes presents major challenges for health services in the face of the evolving epidemics of obesity and diabetes.
Accountability, Control and Independence: The Case of European Agencies
Authors: Busuioc Madalina 
Published: August 2009

AbstractThis article points at two problematic assumptions made in some of the contemporary European agency literature. It proposes a conceptual framework, integrating accountability, autonomy and control, and aims to demonstrate how this type of conceptualisation contributes to clarifying problematic aspects of the current European agency debate. Empirical evidence from interviews with high‐level practitioners is provided to illustrate the relevance of the proposed framework. The empirical information reveals that, at times, the de facto level of autonomy displayed by some European agencies is below the autonomy provided by the formal legal rules as a result of ongoing controls exercised by one (or other) of the principals. The repercussions that flow from these empirical insights for the agency debate in general, as well as for our understanding of agency accountability, will be discussed at length.
Family Reunification Rights of (Migrant) Union Citizens: Towards a More Liberal Approach
Authors: Tryfonidou Alina 
Published: August 2009

AbstractOver the years, in the case‐law of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) determining the availability of family reunification rights for migrant Member State nationals, the pendulum has swung back and forth, from a ‘moderate approach’ in cases such as Morson and Jhanjan (1982) and Akrich (2003), towards a more ‘liberal approach’ in cases such as Carpenter (2002) and Jia (2007). Under the Court's ‘moderate approach’, family reunification rights in the context of the Community's internal market policy are only granted in situations where this is necessary for enabling a Member State national to move between Member States in the process of exercising one of the economic fundamental freedoms; in other words, where there is a sufficient link between the exercise of one of those freedoms and the need to grant family reunification rights under EC law. Conversely, under the Court's ‘liberal approach’, in order for family reunification rights to be bestowed by EC law, it suffices that the situation involves the exercise of one of the market freedoms and that the claimants have a familial link which is covered by Community law; in other words, there is no need to illustrate that there is a link between the grant of such rights and the furtherance of the Community's aim of establishing an internal market.The recent judgments of the ECJ in Eind and Metock (and its order in Sahin) appear to have decidedly moved the pendulum towards the ‘liberal approach’ side. In this article, it will be explained that the fact that the EU is aspiring to be not only a supranational organisation with a successful and smoothly functioning market but also a polity, the citizens of which enjoy a number of basic rights which form the core of a meaningful status of Union citizenship, is the major driving force behind this move. In particular, the move towards a wholehearted adoption of the ‘liberal approach’ seems to have been fuelled by a desire, on the part of the Court, to respond to a number of problems arising from its ‘moderate approach’ and which appear to be an anomaly in a citizens' Europe. These are: a) the incongruity caused between the (new) aim of the Community of creating a meaningful status of Union citizenship and the treatment of Union citizens (under the Court's ‘moderate approach’) as mere factors of production; and b) the emergence of reverse discrimination. The article will conclude with an explanation of why the adoption of the Court's liberal approach does not appear to be a proper solution to these problems.