bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Randomized Controlled Trial: Efficacy and Safety of Azithromycin, Ofloxacin, Bismuth, and Omeprazole Compared With Amoxicillin, Clarithromycin, Bismuth, and Omeprazole as Second‐Line Therapy in Patients With Helicobacter pylori Infection
Authors: Minakari Mohammad , Davarpanah Jazi Amir Hosein , Shavakhi Ahmad , Moghareabed Neda , Fatahi Farinaz 
Published: March 2010

AbstractBackground:  Helicobacter pylori infection of the stomach is widespread among human populations and is considered to play a major role in the pathogenesis of various diseases such as peptic ulcer, adenocarcinoma, and mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma of the stomach. To increase H. pylori eradication rate without increasing bacterial resistance, various regimens have been recommended. Commonly the association of at least two antibiotics with a proton‐pump inhibitor is used. The treatment regimens for second‐line therapy, suggested in studies from the western world may not be ideal in Iran.Aim:  In this study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of a new quadruple therapy regimen and compared it with the standard second‐line treatment for H. pylori eradication.Methods:  We selected 220 H. pylori positive patients, with a clear indication of eradication therapy, who did not respond to a 2 weeks treatment with metronidazole, amoxicillin, omeprazole, and bismuth. They were randomized into two groups. Group A (n = 110) were treated with azithromycin, ofloxacin, bismuth, and omeprazole and group B (n = 110) with amoxicillin, clarithromycin, bismuth, and omeprazole for 2 weeks. Four weeks after the end of treatment, urea breath test was performed for all subjects to confirm eradication.Results:  In intention‐to‐treat analysis, the rate of H. pylori eradication in groups A and B was 77.3% (85/110) and 64.5% (71/110) respectively (p = .027). In per‐protocol analysis, the rate of H. pylori eradication in groups A and B was 86.7 and 74.7%, respectively (p = .026). The incidence of poor compliance was lower, although not significantly so, in group A than group B (3.5 vs 4.3%). No major adverse events occurred in both groups.Conclusion:  Two weeks of treatment with ofloxacin, azithromycin, omeprazole, and bismuth is an effective and safe regimen for H. pylori eradication as second‐line therapy.
Type I Restriction–Modification Loci Reveal High Allelic Diversity in Clinical Helicobacter pylori Isolates
Authors: Andres Sönke , Skoglund Anna , Nilsson Christina , Krabbe Margareta , Björkholm Britta , Engstrand Lars 
Published: March 2010

AbstractBackground:  A remarkable variety of restriction‐modification (R‐M) systems is found in Helicobacter pylori. Since they encompass a large portion of the strain‐specific H. pylori genes and therefore contribute to genetic variability, they are suggested to have an impact on disease outcome. Type I R‐M systems comprise three different subunits and are the most complex of the three types of R‐M systems.Aims:  We investigated the genetic diversity and distribution of type I R‐M systems in clinical isolates of H. pylori.Material and methods:  Sixty‐one H. pylori isolates from a Swedish hospital based case‐control study and 6 H. pylori isolates of a Swedish population‐based study were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction for the presence of the three R‐M systems' subunits. Representative gene variants were sequenced.Results:  Although the hsdM and hsdR genes appeared conserved in our clinical H. pylori isolates, the sequences of the hsdS loci were highly variable. Despite their sequence diversity, the genes per se were present at high frequencies. We identified a number of novel allelic hsdS variants, which are distinct from corresponding hsdS loci in the sequenced H. pylori strains 26695, J99 and HPAG1. In analyses of paired H. pylori isolates, obtained from the same individuals with a 4‐year interval, we observed genetic modifications of hsdS genes in patients with atrophic gastric mucosa.Discussion:  We propose that the genetic variability of hsdS genes in a bacterial population will give rise to new specificities of these enzymes, which might lead to adaptation to an ever‐changing gastric environment.
Comparison of the Efficacy of the Two Tetracycline‐Containing Sequential Therapy Regimens for the Eradication of Helicobacter Pylori: 5 days Versus 14 days Amoxicillin
Authors: Çetinkaya Züleyha A. , Sezikli Mesut , Güzelbulut Fatih , Coşgun Süleyman , Düzgün Serkan , Kurdaş Oya Ö. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractAim:  To compare the efficacy of 14‐day and 5‐day amoxicillin treatment on the eradication rate during tetracycline containing sequential H. pylori therapy, and also to compare the eradication rate of this regimen with those used in similar studies performed in Turkey.Method:  This study included 112 patients infected with H. pylori that were randomized into 2 groups. In group A, patients (n = 56) received pantoprazole (40 mg BID) and amoxicillin (1 g BID) for 5 days, followed by pantoprazole (40 mg BID), tetracycline (500 mg QID), and metronidazole (500 mg TID) for the remaining 9 days. In group B, patients (n = 56) received pantoprazole (40 mg BID) and amoxicillin (1 g BID) for 5 days, followed by pantoprazole (40 mg BID), tetracycline (500 mg QID), metronidazole (500 mg TID), and amoxicillin (1 g BID) for the remaining 9 days. Eradication rates were calculated using both intention‐to‐treat (ITT) and per‐protocol (PP) analyses.Results:  In all, 112 patients were subjected to ITT analysis and 109 patients completed the study. In group A, H. pylori eradication was achieved in 46 (82.1%) of the 56 patients included in the ITT analysis and in 46 (83.6%) of the 55 patients included in the PP analysis. In group B, H. pylori eradication was achieved in 44 (78.57%) of the 56 patients included in the ITT analysis and in 44 (81.48%) of the 54 patients included in the PP analysis (Table 2). The eradication rates were not statistically significant between the 2 groups (p > .005).

Eradication rates in the two study groups

Group A
Group B
p

n
ITT/PP
n
ITT/PP

Eradication

Female
21
70%/72.4%
34
79.06%/82.9%
NS

Male
25
6.1%/96.1%
10
76.9%/76.9%
NS

Total
46
82.1%/83.6%
44
78.57%/81.48%
NS

NS, not significant; PP, per‐protocol; ITT, intention‐to‐treat.

Conclusion:  Extended duration of amoxicillin treatment during the entire tetracycline containing sequential therapy period did not improve the H. pylori eradication rate. As a consequence, sequential therapy using 5‐day amoxicillin is an acceptable first‐line therapy option for the eradication of H. pylori in Turkey.
Induction of Innate Immune Gene Expression Cascades in Brain Slice Cultures by Ethanol: Key Role of NF‐κB and Proinflammatory Cytokines
Authors: Zou Jian , Crews Fulton 
Published: March 2010

Background:  Postmortem human alcoholic brain has increased expression of proinflammatory cytokines (He and Crews, 2007). Nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) is a transcription factor known to induce proinflammatory cytokine expression. Ethanol exposure increases NF‐κB–DNA binding in rat brain (Crews et al., 2006) and in brain slice cultures in vitro (Zou and Crews, 2006). Using hippocampal‐entorhinal cortex (HEC) brain slice cultures, we explored the effect of ethanol on NF‐κB–DNA binding, proinflammatory gene expression, and sensitivity to glutamate neurotoxicity.Methods:  The HEC brain slice cultures are prepared from rats on P7 and used after 2 weeks in culture. NF‐κB–DNA binding is determined by EMSA, NF‐κB subunit–DNA binding by ELISA and mRNA by RT‐PCR. Multiple antibody immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy are used to characterize cell types expressing ethanol‐induced genes.Results:  Ethanol treatment results in a progressive increase in NF‐κB–DNA binding that includes large increases in NF‐κB subunit p50 protein–DNA binding. The expression of NF‐κB proinflammatory target genes progressively increased with time of ethanol treatment. Ethanol induces proinflammatory cytokines TNFα, MCP‐1, and IL‐1β, proinflammatory proteases TACE, and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) as well as inducible nitric oxide synthase. Blockade of NF‐κB by using NF‐κB p65 siRNA and BHT reduces ethanol induction of proinflammatory genes. Neutralizing antibody to proinflammatory cytokine TNFα reduces ethanol induction of proinflammatory genes, suggesting cytokine propagation of proinflammatory gene induction. Furthermore, neutralizing antibodies to proinflammatory cytokines and protease tPA inhibitors blunt ethanol sensitization to glutamate neurotoxicity.Conclusions:  These findings indicate that ethanol treatment increases NF‐κB–DNA binding and proinflammatory gene expression in brain slices. Ethanol‐induced innate immune proinflammatory gene induction alters neurotransmission and likely contributes to alcoholic neurodegeneration.
Verbal and Nonverbal Memory in Adults Prenatally Exposed to Alcohol
Authors: Coles Claire D. , Lynch Mary Ellen , Kable Julie A. , Johnson Katrina C. , Goldstein Felicia C. 
Published: March 2010

Background:  Neurocognitive effects of prenatal alcohol exposure in adulthood are not well documented. Questions persist regarding the extent to which there are specific, measurable effects beyond those associated with global ability deficits, whether individuals without the full fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) demonstrate alcohol‐related cognitive impairments, and whether observed memory effects are specific to a particular modality, i.e., verbal vs. visual/spatial domains.Methods:  In this study, verbal and nonverbal selective reminding paradigms were used to assess memory function in 234 young adults (M age: 22.78, SD: 1.79). Alcohol exposure was quantified prenatally. Alcohol groups included: Individuals with physical effects of alcohol exposure (Dysmorphic group, n = 47); Exposed individuals without such effects (n = 74). Contrast groups included: Controls (n = 59) matched for ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and hospital of birth; Special Education contrast group (n = 54) included to control for disability status. Memory outcomes entailed total recall, delayed recall, and measures of encoding and retrieval, and learning over trials as indexed by slope.Results:  Results indicated that Dysmorphic individuals were significantly less efficient in memory performance than Controls on all of the outcomes measured, but they did not differ from those in the Special Education contrast group. The nondysmorphic, alcohol‐exposed group was intermediate in their performance, suggesting a continuum of effects of prenatal exposure. Evaluation of the encoding and retrieval aspects of memory performance indicated that learning rather than forgetting accounted for the deficits associated with prenatal alcohol exposure. Finally, no interaction was found between modality of presentation (verbal and nonverbal) and effects of alcohol exposure on memory performance.Conclusion:  These findings indicate that prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with persistent and specific effects on memory performance, and these problems result from less efficient encoding of information across both verbal and nonverbal modalities. Education and training efforts with this clinical group should take these characteristics into account.
Retrospective Comparison of Ultrasound and Fluoroscopic Image Guidance for Intercostal Steroid Injections
Authors: Shankar Hariharan , Eastwood Dan 
Published: March 2010

AbstractIntroduction:  Steroid injection around the intercostal nerves is one of the treatment options for intercostal neuralgia. The technique may be performed blindly, under fluoroscopic guidance (FSG) or with the use of ultrasound guidance (USG). This study is a retrospective comparison of image guidance for intercostal steroid injections.Methods:  After Institutional Review Board approval, a retrospective review of all patient charts who received intercostal steroid injections from 2005 to 2009 was performed. A total of 39 blocks were performed in that period. Of that 12 were USG blocks and 27 FSG blocks. The preprocedure visual analog scale (VAS) and postprocedure VAS and the duration of pain relief were compared between the 2 techniques. A Mann–Whitney test and Kruskal–Wallis test were performed looking for differences between the techniques.Results:  The median change in the VAS for FSG and USG were −5.000 and −4.000, respectively, and duration of pain relief with a median difference of 2 weeks (95% confidence interval of −4, 7). There were 2 occasions of intravascular spread noticed with the FSG although this should not affect the study result as the needle was repositioned and steroid injected only after contrast dye confirmation.Conclusion:  With similar change in VAS scores and duration of pain relief between the 2 guidance methods based on this retrospective study, both image guidance techniques may offer similar pain relief.
Polyethylene glycol antiglobulin tube versus gel microcolumn: influence on the incidence of delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions and delayed serologic transfusion reactions
Authors: Winters Jeffrey L. , Richa Elie M. , Bryant Sandra C. , Tauscher Craig D. , Bendix Brenda J. , Stubbs James R. 
Published: March 2010

BACKGROUND: Our institution has reported on delayed hemolytic transfusion reaction (DHTR) and delayed serologic transfusion reaction (DSTR) incidence changes. From January 1993 to June 2003, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) tube–based technique was used for red blood cell (RBC) antibody screen. In June 2003, a gel microcolumn technique was implemented. Impact of this on antibody detection and DHTR and DSTR incidence was investigated.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Positive antibody screen frequency and antibody specificity from January 2002 to March 2003 and July 2003 to September 2004 were compared. Overall incidence of DHTR and DSTR as well as the number and identity of the RBC antibodies implicated from August 1999 through June 2003 (PEG) and July 2003 through July 2007 (gel) were compared. The mean length of hospital stay (LOS) and number of RBC units transfused per patient were compared.RESULTS: Equivalent numbers of antibody screens were performed with equivalent numbers of positive screens. Significant differences were not seen in the detection of clinically significant antibodies but significantly fewer clinically insignificant antibodies were detected with gel. Ninety‐six DHTRs and DSTRs were diagnosed. The LOS and number of transfused RBC units were not statistically different. A significantly higher incidence of DHTRs and DSTRs was seen with PEG compared to the gel.CONCLUSION: The gel microcolumn method is similar to the PEG in detecting clinically significant antibodies but detects fewer clinically insignificant antibodies. The implementation of gel resulted in a lower incidence of DHTRs and DSTRs compared to PEG.
Defining Patients at High Risk for Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage after Drug‐Eluting Stent Placement: A Cost Utility Analysis
Authors: GUPTA NEIL , NAYAK RAHUL , GRISOLANO SCOTT W. , BUCKLES DANIEL C. , TADROS PETER N. 
Published: March 2010

Introduction: The study goal was to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of drug‐eluting stent (DES) placement with consideration of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding risk. DES reduce the need for future coronary revascularization, but require prolonged dual anti‐platelet (DAT) therapy, which may increase the risk for GI bleeding. While DES have been found to be cost‐effective in patients at average risk for GI bleeding, they may not be the most cost‐effective strategy in higher risk patients.
Methods: A Markov model was created to compare DES with bare metal stents (BMS). Patients were a hypothetical cohort of 60‐year‐old individuals with coronary artery stenosis that required nonemergent percutaneous coronary revascularization (PCI). The primary outcomes were the threshold incremental risks of GI bleeding from DAT based on willingness to pay (WTP) of $50,000, $100,000, and $150,000 per quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained.
Results: For a WTP of $100,000, the relative risk of GI bleeding from DAT could be as high as 10.8 (when compared to aspirin alone) before DES would no longer be cost‐effective. In patients with two risk factors for GI bleeding, the threshold relative risk could be as low as 1.6.
Conclusion: In average‐risk patients, the risk of GI bleeding from DAT can be substantial without affecting the cost‐effectiveness of DES. However, DES are unlikely to be cost‐effective in patients with two or more risk factors for GI bleeding. (J Interven Cardiol 2010;23:179‐187)
Serial Intravascular Ultrasound Analysis of the Impact of Myocardial Bridge on Neointimal Proliferation After Coronary Stenting in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: TSUJITA KENICHI , MAEHARA AKIKO , MINTZ GARY S. , LANSKY ALEXANDRA J. , KUBO TAKASHI , DOI HIROSHI , YANG JUNQING , BHARAJ HARPREET , WITZENBICHLER BERNHARD , GUAGLIUMI GIULIO , BRODIE BRUCE R. , KELLETT MIRLE A. , PARISE HELEN , MEHRAN ROXANA , STONE GREGG W. 
Published: March 2010

Background: Mechanisms underlying the association between myocardial bridge (MB)‐stenting and in‐stent restenosis (ISR) are still unclear.
Objective: To assess the impact of MB on ISR using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).
Methods: In the Harmonizing Outcomes with Revascularization and Stents in Acute Myocardial Infarction (HORIZONS‐AMI) trial, 100 left anterior descending artery (LAD) culprit lesions (79 treated with paclitaxel‐eluting stents [PES] and 21 treated with bare metal stents) were imaged with serial IVUS immediately postprocedure and at 13 months.
Results: At baseline the LAD stent extended into the MB segment beyond the culprit lesion in seven patients (MB‐stent group). In the remaining 93 patients the LAD stent was implanted only in the culprit lesion without extending into the MB segment (non‐MB‐stent group). In PES‐treated lesions intimal hyperplasia (IH) was greater in MB‐stent group than in non‐MB‐stent group (1.0 [0.9, 1.3] mm2 vs. 0.4 [0.2, 0.7] mm2, P = 0.007). When comparing the MB‐stent segment with the non‐MB‐stent segment in the MB‐stent group treated with PES, a significant reduction in lumen area was observed in only the MB‐stent segment, owing to an augmented IH within the MB‐stent segment (1.56 [1.40, 1.91] mm2 vs. 0.77 [0.55, 1.23] mm2 for non‐MB‐stent segment, P = 0.08), not significant stent recoil (Δstent area). At follow‐up, the minimum lumen area was smaller in the MB‐stent group than in the non‐MB‐stent group (2.9 [2.5, 4.2] mm2 vs. 5.2 [4.1, 6.7] mm2, P = 0.02).
Conclusions: Increased incidence of ISR associated with MB‐stenting may be attributable to enhanced IH, specific to stented MB segment, not to chronic stent recoil. (J Interven Cardiol 2010;23:114‐122)
Three‐Dimensional Vessel Analyses Provide More Accurate Length Estimations than the Gold Standard QCA
Authors: MEERKIN DAVID , MAROM HADAR , COHEN‐BITON ORNIT , EINAV SHARON 
Published: March 2010

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare lesion dimensions as determined by a three‐dimensional quantitative coronary angiographic (QCA) system to that of a validated two‐dimensional QCA system.
Background: In an era of drug‐eluting stents, device sizing has become an important clinical application of online QCA. The CardiOp‐B system integrates two standard angiographic projections to provide a three‐dimensional reconstruction of the arterial segment of interest.
Methods: Phase 1 — 47 stenoses from consecutive coronary angiograms were assessed in two projections with both systems providing two data sets for the CMS‐Medis system and a single data set for CardiOp‐B. Phase 2 — a perspex phantom with a known lesion length, was analyzed at increasing degrees of foreshortening with acceptance criteria set at 5% from the absolute value.
Results: Phase 1 demonstrated an adequate correlation between the CardiOp‐B and Medis systems when minimal luminal diameter was measured in the optimal view (1.32 ± 0.47 mm vs 1.42 ± 0.49 mm respectively; r = 0.82). A stronger correlation was noted when length was measured (25.27 ± 10.76 mm and 21.32 ± 8.08 mm, respectively; r = 0.95); however CardiOp‐B provided a consistently longer length (P < 0.0001). On phantom length measurements the mean accuracy result for the CardiOp‐B system was −1.3%. This compared favorably with the two‐dimensional system where all measures performed at greater than 20 degrees of forshortening were beyond the 5% criteria from the known length.
Conclusions: Three‐dimensional QCA provides accurate and precise vessel diameter assessments. Length assessments are consistently longer than two‐dimensional measures and are significantly less affected by foreshortened projections. (J Interven Cardiol 2010;23:152‐159)
Spatial variation in keystone effects: small mammal diversity associated with black‐tailed prairie dog colonies
Authors: Cully Jack F. , Collinge Sharon K. , VanNimwegen Ron E. , Ray Chris , Johnson Whitney C. , Thiagarajan Bala , Conlin David B. , Holmes Brian E. 
Published: March 2010

Species with extensive geographic ranges may interact with different species assemblages at distant locations, with the result that the nature of the interactions may vary spatially. Black‐tailed prairie dogs Cynomys ludovicianus occur from Canada to Mexico in grasslands of the western Great Plains of North America. Black‐tailed prairie dogs alter vegetation and dig extensive burrow systems that alter grassland habitats for plants and other animal species. These alterations of habitat justify the descriptor “ecological engineer,” and the resulting changes in species composition have earned them status as a keystone species. We examined the impact of black‐tailed prairie dogs on small mammal assemblages by trapping at on‐ and off‐colony locations at eight study areas across the species' geographic range. We posed 2 nested hypotheses: 1) prairie dogs function as a keystone species for other rodent species; and 2) the keystone role varies spatially. Assuming that it does, we asked what are the sources of the variation?Black‐tailed prairie dogs consistently functioned as a keystone species in that there were strong statistically significant differences in community composition on versus off prairie dog colonies across the species range in prairie grassland. Small mammal species composition varied along both latitudinal and longitudinal gradients, and species richness varied from 4 to 11. Assemblages closer together were more similar; such correlations approximately doubled when including only on‐ or off‐colony grids. Black‐tailed prairie dogs had a significant effect on associated rodent assemblages that varied regionally, dependent upon the composition of the local rodent species pool. Over the range of the black‐tailed prairie dog, on‐colony rodent richness and evenness were less variable, and species composition was more consistent than off‐colony assemblages.