bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Helicobacter pylori Eradication and Change in Markers of Iron Stores Among Non–iron‐deficient Children in El Paso, Texas: An Etiologic Intervention Study
Authors: Cardenas Victor M , Prieto‐Jimenez Carmen A , Mulla Zuber D , Rivera Jose O , Dominguez Delfina C , Graham David Y , Ortiz Melchor 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACTObjectives:We assessed whether Helicobacter pylori eradication was followed by changes in iron stores among non–iron‐deficient children.Materials and Methods:Double‐blind randomized intervention trial on 110 asymptomatic 3‐ to 10‐year‐olds with H pylori infection assigned to any of the following 4 arms: both quadruple eradication and iron supplementation, either quadruple sequential eradication or iron supplementation, or placebo only. Hemoglobin, transferrin saturation, and serum ferritin were measured at baseline and 8 months later to assess changes according to study arm, H pylori infection status at ≥45 days, and cytotoxin‐associated gene product A status.Results:Intent‐to‐treat (n = 110) and per‐protocol (n = 90) analyses revealed no differences across study arms in changes of iron stores. However, we found that those who had their infection eradicated had a 3‐fold increased average change from baseline serum ferritin compared with that of children who remained infected (P < 0.05). Eradication of infection by cytotoxin‐associated gene product A negative strains was associated with a larger ferritin increase.Conclusions:In this double‐blind randomized trial, the first among non–iron‐deficient, asymptomatic H pylori–infected children living in the contiguous United States, we found no effect of H pylori eradication regarding changes in iron stores. However, those who had their infection eradicated at follow‐up had a significantly larger increase in serum ferritin from baseline.
Outcome of children treated with haematopoietic‐stem cell transplantations from donors expressing the rare C77G variant of the PTPRC (CD45) gene
Authors: Samaan Samaan , Guérin‐El Khourouj Valérie , Auboeuf Didier , Peltier Lucas , Pédron Béatrice , Ouachée‐Chardin Marie , Gourgouillon Nadége , Baruchel André , Dalle Jean‐Hugues , Sterkers Ghislaine 
Published: February 2011

SummaryThe uncommon C77G polymorphism of the Protein‐Tyrosine Phosphatase (PTPRC) gene (PTPRC; previously termed CD45) could confer an increased risk of immunopathology. This study compared the outcome of children following human leucocyte antigen‐matched unrelated haematopoïetic‐stem cell transplantations (HSCT) from donors carrying (C77G cases: n = 8) or not (controls: n = 36) the PTPRC C77G polymorphism. Transmission of the PTPRC C77G polymorphism through the graft was suggested by unusual CD45RA phenotype in the donors and/or in the recipients after, but not before HSCT. Restriction‐Fragment Length Polymorphism and sequencing confirmed the polymorphism. Overall survival rates were similar in C77G cases and controls (63% vs. 61%). Acute leukaemia relapse tended to be less frequent in C77G cases (0% vs. 32%; P = 0·09). Among recipients surviving ≥30 d, acute GVHD (aGVHD) ≥ grade 2 tended to be more frequent (100% vs. 58%; P = 0·07) and the rate of steroid‐refractory or –dependant aGVHD higher (67% vs. 28%) in C77G cases. Finally, extensive chronic GVHD tended to occur more frequently (40% vs. 9%) in C77G cases. Recovery of lymphocyte subsets and virus‐specific CD4 was similar in C77G cases and controls while interleukin 2 (IL2)‐responses through CD3 stimulation were higher in C77G cases (P = 0·004). In conclusion, HSCT from PTPRC C77G donors could increase GVHD risk without compromising overall survival. Altered IL2‐responses could be involved in this process.
The use of complementary and alternative medicine among chronic renal failure patients
Authors: Akyol Asiye D , Yildirim Yasemin , Toker Emel , Yavuz Betul 
Published: February 2011

Aims and objectives.  The aim of this study is to evaluate the factors affecting the use and frequency of use of complementary and alternative medicine among chronic renal failure patients.Background.  The use of complementary and alternative medicine in the general population and patients with chronic renal failure has increased significantly. Despite this, there is limited information concerning the use of complementary and alternative medicine among chronic renal failure patients.Design.  Cross‐sectional survey.Method.  The research was carried out at the nephrology and internal medicine outpatient clinics. Two hundred and six chronic renal failure patients admitted to the outpatient clinics were included in the study. Mean outcomes measures were the frequency and type of complementary and alternative medicine use, demographic and disease‐related characteristics affecting complementary and alternative medicine use and the reasons for using complementary and alternative medicine. The data were evaluated by Pearson’s chi‐square test and Fisher’s exact test.Results.  While 2·9% of the patients had been using complementary and alternative medicine before the renal disease occurred, 25·2% of the patients reported that they had at least once used complementary and alternative medicine methods after the renal disease occurred. A significant difference was found between complementary and alternative medicine usage and age, gender, place of living, occupational status and educational background (p < 0·05). While most of the patients using complementary and alternative medicine (78·3%) stated that they used such methods as a cure for their disease, 46·1% used body–mind techniques.Conclusions.  The results of our study showed that one‐fourth of the chronic renal failure patients were using complementary and alternative medicine, mainly body–mind techniques. In addition, the study proved that most of the patients do not discuss their complementary and alternative medicine usage with their doctors and nurses.Relevance to clinical practice.  It is essential that nephrology doctors and nurses should ask specific questions about complementary and alternative medicine usage while taking anamnesis on the patients’ disease and nutritional status and that the nephrology team should expand their knowledge on complementary and alternative medicine methods to ensure patient and treatment safety.
The role of health care assistants in supporting district nurses and family carers to deliver palliative care at home: findings from an evaluation project
Authors: Ingleton Christine , Chatwin John , Seymour Jane , Payne Sheila 
Published: February 2011

Aims and objectives.  To examine the role of trained health and personal care assistants in supporting district nurses and family carers in providing palliative and end of life care in the community.Background.  In the UK, there is a policy directive to improve end of life care and to enable greater numbers of people to die at home. This places considerable demands on community nursing services and family carers. In response to this, the Complex and Palliative Continuing Care Service employing generic health and personal care assistants was developed as part of the Marie Curie Delivering Choice Programme in one city in the UK. This paper draws on findings from an independent evaluation of the scheme.Design.  The wider evaluation used a formative evaluation methodology.Method.  This paper draws on in‐depth interviews with a range of stakeholders (n = 17), in‐depth interviews with bereaved carers (n = 6) and an analysis of documentation.Results.  Stakeholders and bereaved carers perceived that the health and personal care assistants made a vital contribution to community palliative care. Careful recruitment, specific training, case management by district nursing with allocation of specific tasks and close ongoing communication were key features which stakeholders indentified. Family carers welcomed the way assistants developed relationships and became familiar and able to meet the care needs of patients. There were some problems reported which related to capacity, work flow and the need for extensive written care plans.Conclusion.  Employing health care assistants under the supervision of district nurses appears to support patients and family at home during end of life care and contribute to good quality nursing care.Relevance to clinical practice.  The needs for community‐based palliative and end of life care will increase rapidly over the course of the next 20 years, placing pressure on community nursing services and family carers.
Development and psychometric evaluation of the German version of the Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI‐D)
Authors: Stange Dorit , Kriston Levente , Langebrake Claudia , Cameron Lynda K. , Wollacott John D. , Baehr Michael , Dartsch Dorothee C. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractBackground  Several factors contribute to the complexity of pharmacotherapeutic regimens, like the total number of medications to be taken, the number of dosage units to take at a time, dosage frequency, as well as specific directions concerning the administration. The Medication Regimen Complexity Index (MRCI) is a validated instrument developed in English for the measurement of the complexity of a given pharmacotherapeutic regimen.Objectives  Translation of the MRCI into German and evaluation of the translated instrument (MRCI‐D) in order to make it more easily accessible for use in German practice and research.Methods  The process of validation included the translation of the English version to German, back‐translation into English, comparison of the back‐translated and the original versions, pre‐tests, and pilot‐testing of the German version by three raters using 20 medication regimens for inpatients. The subsequent psychometric evaluation included the calculation of inter‐rater and test–retest reliability, as well as the assessment of convergent validity.Results  The number of medications correlated highly and statistically significantly with the MRCI‐D score (0.91, P < 0.001), indicating sufficient convergent validity of the instrument. Both inter‐rater and test–retest reliability were very high (intraclass correlation coefficients above 0.80 in all cases).Conclusion  Our results demonstrate that the German version of the MRCI reflects the complexity of therapeutic regimens with similar validity and reliability as the established English version. Thus, it may be a valuable tool to analyse therapeutic regimens in both clinical practice and science.
The use of fentanyl‐patch in dogs undergoing spinal surgery: plasma concentration and analgesic efficacy
Authors: BELLEI E. , RONCADA P. , PISONI L. , JOECHLER M. , ZAGHINI A. 
Published: February 2011

Bellei, E., Roncada, P., Pisoni, L., Joechler, M., Zaghini, A. The use of fentanyl‐patch in dogs undergoing spinal surgery: plasma concentrations and analgesic efficacy.J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.34, 437–441.Objectives of this study were to evaluate plasma concentrations and analgesic efficacy of fentanyl administered transdermically in dogs undergoing spinal surgery. At the end of the surgery and before awakening, a fentanyl‐patch was applied and was maintainedin situfor 72 h. Blood samples were taken before the application of the patch, at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 18, 24, 32, 40, 48, 60, and 72 h after application and then 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h after its removal. Before each blood sampling, pain evaluation was carried out using the Glasgow pain score, appropriately modified. Plasma concentrations of fentanyl were determined using a specific immuno‐enzymatic kit. In this study, the minimum analgesic plasma concentration (0.23 ng/mL) required to achieve analgesia in human and considered to apply also for dogs was reached in all animals. No animal showed pain in the range of ‘intense pain’; in two cases, the level of the pain was slight or moderate. No undesired effects were found. Results suggest that the use of transdermic patches could represent a valid aid in pain therapy in small animals; in particular, it contributes to the postoperative well‐being of patients undergoing major surgery.
The role of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in postgastrectomy patients
Authors: Paik C. N. , Choi M.‐G. , Lim C. H. , Park J. M. , Chung W. C. , Lee K.‐M. , Jun K.‐H. , Song K. Y. , Jeon H. M. , Chin H.‐M. , Park C. H. , Chung I.‐S. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractBackground  Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is expected in postgastrectomy patients; however, its role has not been clarified. This study was to estimate the prevalence of SIBO and investigate the clinical role of SIBO in postgastrectomy patients.Methods  This prospective study involved 76 patients who underwent gastrectomy for early gastric cancer with no evidence of recurrence. An H2–CH4 breath test with oral glucose challenge test was performed to diagnose SIBO and dumping syndrome. Sigstad dumping questionnaires, serum glucose, hematocrit and pulse rate were simultaneously monitored for every 30 min for 3 hours.Key Results  There were significant differences in SIBO between the postgastrectomy patients and controls (77.6%vs 6.7%, P < 0.01). Abdominal fullness or borborygmus during oral glucose load were more common in SIBO‐positive than in negative patients (50.8%vs 17.6%, P = 0.03), and were the independent factors for predicting SIBO in postgastrectomy patients (P = 0.02). The prevalences of dumping syndrome and hypoglycemia after oral glucose were 35 (46.1%) and 19 (25.0%), and were not different between both groups. However, the plasma glucose was significantly lower in SIBO‐positive than in SIBO‐negative patients at 120 and 150 min after oral glucose load (P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in pulse rate and hematocrit in both groups.Conclusions & Inferences  SIBO is common among postgastrectomy patients. It appears to be associated with postprandial intestinal symptoms and might aggravate late hypoglycemia. SIBO could be a new therapeutic target for managing intestinal symptoms in postgastrectomy patients.
Flow Cytometric Analysis of TCR Vβ Repertoire in Patients with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome
Authors: McLean‐Tooke A. , Barge D. , Spickett G. P. , Gennery A. R. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractIn 22q11.2 deletion patients, the normal decrease in T lymphocyte counts after 1–2 years is blunted such that relatively T lymphocyte numbers increase over early childhood, probably via post‐thymic expansion of peripheral lymphocytes. This may leave less T lymphocyte receptor (TCR) diversity than when derived from naive thymic emigrants. We analysed TCR Vβ repertoire on 27 22q11.2 chromosome deletion patients. No patient had infection at sampling. CD3+CD4+ recent thymic emigrants (RTEs) were identified by CD45RA and CD31 expression. TCR Vβ repertoire was determined using four‐colour flow cytometry. Patients and controls showed significant TCR Vβ family usage differences between CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD4− T lymphocyte subpopulations. Vβ family abnormalities (±3 SD of controls) were identified in 18/27 (67%) patients and 12/47 (25%) controls. In patients, the magnitude of expansions was increased, with some Vβ families representing 37% of the cells present in the subpopulations. There was a significant increase in frequency of abnormalities in CD3+CD4+ (P < 0.001) and CD3+CD4− T lymphocytes (P < 0.05) in patients. A total of 11/16 patients had an abnormal CD4+CD25Bright TCR Vβ repertoire. There was no difference in expansions/contractions between CD4+CD25Bright and CD4+ T lymphocyte repertoires (P = 0.575) for individual patients but significant differences in expansions/contractions between CD4+CD25Bright and CD8+ T lymphocytes repertoires (P = 0.011). There was bias in Vβ usage between CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD4− T lymphocyte subsets. A total of 67% patients had TCR Vβ repertoire abnormalities, with a trend towards increased repertoire abnormalities with fewer RTEs, suggesting thymic output plays an important role in TCR repertoire diversity. There was no correlation between skewed repertoire and symptoms of infection or autoimmunity.
Determinants of Experimental Allergic Responses: Interactions Between Allergen Dose, Sex and Age
Authors: Hansen J. S. , Alberg T. , Rasmussen H. , Lovik M. , Nygaard U. C. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThe prevalence of allergic diseases is influenced by sex and age. Although mouse models are widely used in allergy research, few experimental studies have examined the interaction effects of sex and age on allergy outcomes. Our aim was to investigate the individual and combined effects of sex and age on allergic sensitization and inflammation in two mouse models: an intraperitoneal (i.p.) and an intranasal (i.n.) sensitization model. We also investigated how the allergen immunization dose interacted with age and sex in the i.p. model. Female and male mice were immunized i.p. or i.n. with ovalbumin when 1, 6 or 20 weeks old. In both models, allergen challenges were performed by i.n. delivery. Serum antibodies, draining lymph node cytokine release and airway inflammatory responses were assessed. In the i.p. model, the antibody and cytokine levels and airway inflammation were highly influenced by immunization dose and age. The responses increased with age when using a low immunization dose, but decreased with age when using a high immunization dose. In the i.n. model, antibody production and airway tissue inflammation increased with age. Female compared with male mice generally developed more pronounced antibody and inflammatory responses. Relative to older mice, juvenile mice had augmented airway inflammation to allergen exposures. The study demonstrates that immunization dose, sex and age are highly influential on allergy outcomes. To better mimic different life stages of human allergic airway disease, murine models, therefore, require careful optimization.
Interleukin‐4 Gene Polymorphisms Confer Behçet’s Disease in Turkish Population
Authors: Oral H. B. , Dilek K. , Özçimen A. A. , Taşkapılıoğlu Ö. , Bingöl Ü. , Sarandöl A. , Sarıcaoğlu H. , Yurtkuran M. , Yurtkuran M. A. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractSeveral cytokine genes may play crucial roles in host susceptibility to Behçet’s Disease (BD), because the cytokine production capacity varies among individuals and depends on the cytokine gene polymorphisms. The association of the IL‐4 and IL‐4Rα gene polymorphisms with the susceptibility to BD was investigated in this study. DNA samples were obtained from a Turkish population of 97 patients with BD and 76 healthy control subjects. All genotyping (IL‐4 and IL‐4Rα) experiments were performed using PCR sequence‐specific primers. When compared with the healthy controls, the frequency of IL‐4 −1098 TG and −590 CT genotypes was higher in the patients with BD. Analysis of allele frequencies showed that IL‐4 −1098 G and IL‐4 −590 T alleles were more common in the patients with BD when compared with healthy controls. Also, IL‐4 TTC and haplotypes were found to confer BD. Interestingly, we demonstrated that IL‐4Rα gene polymorphism seems to be associated with the Pathergy test positivity in patients with BD. Our data suggest that IL‐4 gene promoter polymorphisms may affect susceptibility to BD and increase risk of developing the disease. However, in order to confirm and assess the association of IL‐4 and IL‐4Rα gene polymorphisms with the BD, large cohort studies are needed.
Distinct evolutionary patterns ofOryza glaberrimadeciphered by genome sequencing and comparative analysis
Authors: Sakai Hiroaki , Ikawa Hiroshi , Tanaka Tsuyoshi , Numa Hisataka , Minami Hiroshi , Fujisawa Masaki , Shibata Michie , Kurita Kanako , Kikuta Ari , Hamada Masao , Kanamori Hiroyuki , Namiki Nobukazu , Wu Jianzhong , Itoh Takeshi , Matsumoto Takashi , Sasaki Takuji 
Published: February 2011

SummaryHere we present the genomic sequence of the African cultivated rice,Oryza glaberrima, and compare these data with the genome sequence of Asian cultivated rice,Oryza sativa. We obtained gene‐enriched sequences ofO. glaberrimathat correspond to about 25% of the gene regions of theO. sativa(japonica) genome by methylation filtration and subtractive hybridization of repetitive sequences. While patterns of amino acid changes did not differ between the two species in terms of the biochemical properties, genes ofO. glaberrimagenerally showed a larger synonymous–nonsynonymous substitution ratio, suggesting thatO. glaberrimahas undergone a genome‐wide relaxation of purifying selection. We further investigated nucleotide substitutions around splice sites and found that eight genes ofO. sativaexperienced changes at splice sites after the divergence fromO. glaberrima. These changes produced novel introns that partially truncated functional domains, suggesting that these newly emerged introns affect gene function. We also identified 2451 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) from the genomes ofO. glaberrimaandO. sativa. Although tri‐nucleotide repeats were most common among the SSRs and were overrepresented in the protein‐coding sequences, we found that selection against indels of tri‐nucleotide repeats was relatively weak in both African and Asian rice. Our genome‐wide sequencing ofO. glaberrimaand in‐depth analyses provide rice researchers not only with useful genomic resources for future breeding but also with new insights into the genomic evolution of the African and Asian rice species.
A meta‐analysis of Th2 pathway genetic variants and risk for allergic rhinitis
Authors: Bunyavanich Supinda , Shargorodsky Josef , Celedón Juan C. 
Published: February 2011

To cite this article: Bunyavanich S, Shargorodsky J, Celedón JC. A meta‐analysis of Th2 pathway genetic variants and risk for allergic rhinitis. Pediatric Allergy Immunology 2011; 22: 378–387.AbstractThere is a significant genetic contribution to allergic rhinitis (AR). Genetic association studies for AR have been performed, but varying results make it challenging to decipher the overall potential effect of specific variants. The Th2 pathway plays an important role in the immunological development of AR. We performed meta‐analyses of genetic association studies of variants in Th2 pathway genes and AR. PubMed and Phenopedia were searched by double extraction for original studies on Th2 pathway‐related genetic polymorphisms and their associations with AR. A meta‐analysis was conducted on each genetic polymorphism with data meeting our predetermined selection criteria. Analyses were performed using both fixed and random effects models, with stratification by age group, ethnicity, and AR definition where appropriate. Heterogeneity and publication bias were assessed. Six independent studies analyzing three candidate polymorphisms and involving a total of 1596 cases and 2892 controls met our inclusion criteria. Overall, the A allele of IL13 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs20541 was associated with increased odds of AR (estimated OR = 1.2; 95% CI 1.1–1.3, p‐value 0.004 in fixed effects model, 95% CI 1.0–1.5, p‐value 0.056 in random effects model). The A allele of rs20541 was associated with increased odds of AR in mixed age groups using both fixed effects and random effects modeling. IL13 SNP rs1800925 and IL4R SNP 1801275 did not demonstrate overall associations with AR. We conclude that there is evidence for an overall association between IL13 SNP rs20541 and increased risk of AR, especially in mixed‐age populations.