bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sunitinib efficacy in the treatment of metastatic skin adnexal carcinomas: report of two patients with hidradenocarcinoma and trichoblastic carcinoma
Authors: Battistella M , Mateus C , Lassau N , Chami L , Boukoucha M , Duvillard P , Cribier B , Robert C 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackground  Adnexal carcinomas are rare and diverse cutaneous tumours. They are locally aggressive and have the potential for distant metastasis. Metastatic adnexal carcinomas are very resistant to conventional chemotherapies. Sunitinib, an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is reportedly effective for the treatment of various solid cancers. Its use in adnexal carcinomas has never been reported.Observations  The first patient had metastatic clear cell hidradenocarcinoma and was stabilized over 8 months with sunitinib, before she relapsed. The second patient had a metastatic malignant hair follicle tumour (trichoblastic carcinoma) and achieved a partial remission with sunitinib, and disease stabilized after 10 months. Dynamic contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (DCE‐US) performed to evaluate tumour vascularization during treatment depicted a dramatic and early decrease in the tumour blood volume.Conclusions  Sunitinib was effective in controlling the disease in our two patients. DCE‐US using linear raw data may have an early predictive value for tumour response to sunitinib. Further studies involving larger cohorts of patients are warranted in order to confirm the efficacy of sunitinib in these rare tumours.
Dermatological future of european patients with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Misery L , Boussetta S , Shooneman P , Taieb C 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackground  The dermatological becoming of children presenting with atopic dermatitis (AD) is not well known.Objective  We performed a study on the presence of AD and other dermatological diseases in subjects with a previous history of AD.Methods  An opinion poll was conducted in eight countries through a telephone interview: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.Results  Among 4369 interviewees, 12.25% declared a history of AD in infancy and 12.4% declared to suffer from a dermatological disease (27% of patients had a history of AD and 10.3% did not have it). Current declared cases of atopic eczema or contact eczema were more frequent in patients with previous history of AD (39.3% vs. 21.5%), whereas these patients appeared less affected by rosacea (2.9% vs. 7.9%). Some differences were observed between different countries.Conclusion  The main interests of this study are the large number of subjects, originating from eight different countries, and its focus on the dermatological future of patients with AD, which is not limited to AD itself.
Acquired reactive perforating collagenosis: a clinicopathologic study of 15 cases from Saudi Arabia
Authors: Satti MB , Aref AH , Raddadi AA , Al‐Ghamdi FA 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackground  Perforating dermatoses include a family of disease characterized by transepidermal elimination of collagen. Despite being described many years ago in association with systemic disease, it is still clinically misdiagnosed.Objective  A retrospective clinical and pathologic review that will increase clinical and pathologic diagnostic awareness of this entity and explore associated systemic disease.Patients and methods  In this report, we present from Saudi Arabia for the first time details of a series of patients seen at the King Abdulaziz Medical City, WR, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, during the period 2002–2009.Results  The study revealed 15 histologically confirmed cases of acquired reactive perforating collagenosis (ARPC). Patients were predominantly adult females with a mean age of 54 years. The lesions were pruritic, predominantly multiple, erythematous excoriated papules and umblicated nodules centrally crusted with an average duration of 6 months, involving the extremities with or without the trunk in 12 patients. Associated systemic disease included diabetes mellitus in 12 patients and chronic renal failure on dialysis in 8 patients. The provisional clinical differential diagnosis included perforating collagenosis in only eight patients.Conclusion  ARPC is not uncommon in Saudi Arabia. The noduloulcerative lesions involve predominantly the extremities, and diabetes mellitus is the most common associate. It is hoped that this article will increase awareness for recognition of this entity to start appropriate therapy.
The period prevalence of oral lichen planus in a cohort of patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus
Authors: Saunders H , Buchanan JAG , Cooper S , Hollowood K , Sherman V , Wojnarowska F 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackground  Lichen sclerosus and lichen planus are chronic inflammatory mucocutaneous disorders that may coexist.Objective  The aim of this study was to estimate the period prevalence of oral lichen planus in a cohort of patients with vulvar lichen sclerosus and to document their clinical characteristics.Methods  We report a series of cases of vulvar lichen sclerosus presenting to two dermatologist‐led vulvar clinics in Oxfordshire, England between 1997 and 2007 with coexistent clinical signs of oral lichen planus.Results  Thirteen cases with coexistent vulvar lichen sclerosus and oral lichen planus were identified, of which five had oral biopsies. Four oral biopsies showed histological features consistent with lichen planus. One oral biopsy was not diagnostic but compatible with oral lichen planus. No cases of oral lichen sclerosus were identified. The period prevalence of oral lichen planus was 6 per 1000 cases of vulvar lichen sclerosus.Conclusion  The period prevalence of oral lichen planus in women with vulvar lichen sclerosus (0.6%) is similar to that reported for oral lichen planus in the general population (1–2%).
Development of goat cheese whey‐flavoured beverages
Authors: TRANJAN BÁRBARA C , CRUZ ADRIANO G , WALTER EDUARDO H M , FARIA JOSE A F , BOLINI HELENA M A , MOURA MIRIAM R L , CARVALHO LUCIA M J 
Published: June 2009

Beverages made from goat cheese whey, flavoured with strawberry and peach pulp, were processed and submitted to physicochemical analysis and affective tests. The beverages exhibited similar values with respect to all the analyses of the proximate composition and little variation in pH and titratable acidity during refrigerated storage. They also showed low caloric value. For colour, aroma and consistency acceptability, there was no significant difference ( P > 0.05) among peach and strawberry flavoured samples. The flavour acceptability was higher for the strawberry beverage than for the peach one ( P = 0.05). A positive purchase intent for strawberry flavoured beverage was reported by 76% of the consumers, while 50% affirmed a similar intention for the peach‐flavoured product. The beverages produced showed potential for commercialization, serving as an additional alternative product derived from goat milk, with minimal additional cost to the dairy plant.
Proteolytic processing of TAR DNA binding protein‐43 by caspases produces C‐terminal fragments with disease defining properties independent of progranulin
Authors: Dormann Dorothee , Capell Anja , Carlson Aaron M. , Shankaran Sunita S. , Rodde Ramona , Neumann Manuela , Kremmer Elisabeth , Matsuwaki Takashi , Yamanouchi Keitaro , Nishihara Masugi , Haass Christian 
Published: June 2009

AbstractNeuronal and glial deposition of misfolded, proteolytically processed, polyubiquitinated and abnormally phosphorylated C‐terminal fragments (CTFs) of the TAR DNA binding protein‐43 (TDP‐43) is a pathological hallmark of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin positive inclusions (FTLD‐U) and certain cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We demonstrate that TDP‐43 can be proteolytically processed by caspases upon induction of apoptosis to a major 35 kDa and a minor 25 kDa CTF. These fragments are initially soluble, but over time they accumulate as insoluble and pathologically phosphorylated derivatives. However, proteolytic processing appears not to be absolutely required for the deposition of insoluble TDP‐43 species, since a caspase resistant mutant of TDP‐43 is also converted into insoluble species. Phosphorylation at S409/410 apparently occurs late during the conversion of soluble to insoluble TDP‐43, suggesting that phosphorylation is not a prerequisite for aggregation. Loss of function of the progranulin (PGRN) gene causes FTLD‐U with TDP‐43 positive inclusions and has been suggested to lead to caspase activation and subsequent TDP‐43 processing. However, siRNA‐mediated knockdown of PGRN in cell culture as well as a PGRN gene knockout in mice failed to cause the formation of the disease characterizing CTFs of TDP‐43. Our findings therefore suggest that caspase‐mediated processing generates CTFs of similar biochemical properties as those occurring in nuclear and cytoplasmic deposits of FTLD‐U patients independent of PGRN levels.
Brain sterol dysregulation in sporadic AD and MCI: relationship to heme oxygenase‐1
Authors: Hascalovici Jacob R. , Vaya Jacob , Khatib Soliman , Holcroft Christina A. , Zukor Hillel , Song Wei , Arvanitakis Zoe , Bennett David A. , Schipper Hyman M. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThe objective of this study was to ascertain the impact of aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) on brain cholesterol (CH), CH precursors, and oxysterol homeostasis. Altered CH metabolism and up‐regulation of heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) are characteristic of AD‐affected neural tissues. We recently determined that HO‐1 over‐expression suppresses total CH levels by augmenting liver X receptor‐mediated CH efflux and enhances oxysterol formation in cultured astroglia. Lipids and proteins were extracted from postmortem human frontal cortex derived from subjects with sporadic AD, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and no cognitive impairment (n = 17 per group) enrolled in the Religious Orders Study, an ongoing clinical‐pathologic study of aging and AD. ELISA was used to quantify human HO‐1 protein expression from brain tissue and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to quantify total CH, CH precursors, and relevant oxysterols. The relationships of sterol/oxysterol levels to HO‐1 protein expression and clinical/demographic variables were determined by multivariable regression and non‐parametric statistical analyses. Decreased CH, increased oxysterol and increased CH precursors concentrations in the cortex correlated significantly with HO‐1 levels in MCI and AD, but not no cognitive impairment. Specific oxysterols correlated with disease state, increasing neuropathological burden, neuropsychological impairment, and age. A model featuring compensated and de‐compensated states of altered sterol homeostasis in MCI and AD is presented based on the current data set and our earlier in vitro work.
Late‐Holocene succession of dinoflagellates in an Antarctic fjord using a multi‐proxy approach: paleoenvironmental genomics, lipid biomarkers and palynomorphs
Authors: BOERE A. C. , ABBAS B. , RIJPSTRA W. I. C. , VERSTEEGH G. J. M. , VOLKMAN J. K. , SINNINGHE DAMSTÉ J. S. , COOLEN M. J. L. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractRecent work has shown that paleoenvironmental genomics, i.e. the application of genomic tools to analyze preserved DNA in sedimentary records, is a promising approach to reconstruct the diversity of past planktonic communities. This provides information about past ecological and environmental changes. A major advantage of this approach is that individual species, including those that did not leave other characteristic markers, can be identified. In this study, we determined which dinoflagellate marker (i.e. 18S rDNA, dinosterol or dinocysts) provided the most detailed information about the late‐Holocene succession of dinoflagellates in an Antarctic Fjord (Ellis Fjord, Vestfold Hills). The preserved rDNA revealed two intervals in the 2750‐year‐old sediment record. The dinoflagellate diversity was the highest until ∼1850 cal yr bp and included phylotypes related to known dinosterol producers. A lower concentration of dinosterol in sediments <1850 cal yr bp coincided with a community shift towards a predominance of the autotrophic sea‐ice dinoflagellate Polarella glacialis, which is not a source of dinosterol. Remarkably, cultures of P. glacialis are known to produce other diagnostic sterols, but these were not recovered here. In addition, conspicuous resting cysts of P. glacialis were not preserved in the analyzed sediments. Overall, dinocysts were rare and the paleoenvironmental genomics approach revealed the highest diversity of dinoflagellates in Ellis Fjord, and was the only approach that recorded a shift in dinoflagellate composition at ∼1850 cal yr bp indicative of a colder climate with more extensive ice cover – this timing coincides with a period of changing climate reported for this region.
Analgesic properties of S100A9 C‐terminal domain: a mechanism dependent on calcium channel inhibition
Authors: Dale Camila Squarzoni , Altier Christophe , Cenac Nicolas , Giorgi Renata , Juliano Maria Aparecida , Juliano Luiz , Zamponi Gerald W. , Vergnolle Nathalie 
Published: June 2009

AbstractCalcium‐binding protein S100A9 and its C‐terminus peptide (mS100A9p) are anti‐inflammatory and induce antinociception in rodents. We investigated the mechanisms involved in this effect, and whether they depend or not on the anti‐inflammatory properties of mS100A9p. In mice, mS100A9p inhibited thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia induced by either carrageenan or formalin, without interfering with paw edema. mS100A9p also inhibited myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), a marker of granulocyte infiltration, induced by carrageenan, but increased MPO after formalin intraplantar injection. The in vivo analgesic properties of mS100A9p were independent of opioid receptor activation. Calcium flux into dorsal root ganglia neurons induced by KCl was inhibited by mS100A9p, suggesting that this protein is able to inhibit signaling, in sensory neurons. The inhibitory effects of mS100A9p on primary afferent signaling were neither due to intracellular calcium store inhibition nor to calcium chelating properties. However, mS100A9p was able to inhibit calcium currents carried by transiently expressed N‐type, but not L‐type calcium channels, as demonstrated both by gene transfection techniques and electrophysiology. These data demonstrate that mS100A9p interferes with mechanisms involved in nociception, hyperalgesia and calcium signaling in sensory neurons, modulating primary afferent nociceptive signal by inhibiting activation of N‐type voltage operated calcium channels.
PALAEOBIOLOGY OF THE CLIMACTICHNITES TRACEMAKER
Authors: GETTY PATRICK R. , HAGADORN JAMES W. 
Published: June 2009

Abstract:  Trace fossils such as Climactichnites offer rare insights into the palaeobiology of Cambrian soft‐bodied animals, especially those that inhabited emergent sand flats and are not known from body fossils. Analysis of field and museum Climactichnites, together with experiments on the preservation of similar modern trails, indicates that the tracemaker was an elongate, bilaterally symmetrical, dorsoventrally flattened, soft‐bodied animal with a muscular foot. These characteristics are consistent with the tracemaker being a primitive mollusc or mollusc‐like animal. Unlike most Neoproterozoic and Cambrian molluscs, the tracemaker could reach considerable size; at up to c. 69 cm long, it was one of the largest Cambrian animals of its time. When moving on the sediment surface, locomotion resulted from muscular waves generated along the sole of its flexible foot; the foot was extended and then clamped onto the substrate. Contraction of pedal muscles then pulled the body forward. Sedimentary structures associated with Climactichnites wilsoni, such as polygonal desiccation cracks, raindrop impressions, adhesion structures and gas escape structures demonstrate that the animal inhabited intermittently subaerially exposed environments. The tracemaker’s method of locomotion is similar to that employed by modern intertidal gastropods, which make Climactichnites‐like trails on exposed sand flats. However, these modern trails are not preserved because of erosion by wind, waves, tides and subsequent bioturbation. Abundant microbial sedimentary structures are associated with C. wilsoni, and together with low levels of vertical bioturbation, intimate that microbial binding may have mediated the preservation of these early mollusc trails.
The Demand and Supply of Parliamentary Policy Advocacy: Evidence from UK Health Policy, 1997–2005
Authors: Bertelli Anthony M. , Dolan Rachel M. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractFundamental to democratic politics is the quality of representation of constituents' interests by elected officials. This article statistically examines a case of substantive policy advocacy in Great Britain: the issues of wait times and health rationing by the National Health Service (NHS), salient throughout the Blair years. An increase in constituent need for care implies an increase in demand for parliamentary representation, yet representation will not necessarily be supplied, because legislators juggle conflicting interests. We measure representative action using parliamentary questions from 1997–2005. Party and parliamentary status and a set of indicators of the health of British citizens provide measures of political supply and constituent demand. Employing count-regression techniques, we find increased parliamentary questions as the proportion of individuals with some high health risks rises, but opposite results for other health risks. Evidence of political supply is much more consistent, suggesting that political careerism goes a long way towards explaining whether MPs table any questions at all in this policy area.
Political-Elite Formation and Transition to Democracy in Pre-State Conditions: Comparing Israel and the Palestinian Authority
Authors: Rubin Aviad 
Published: June 2009

AbstractThis article's main argument complements the literature on transitions to democracy by focusing on the long-term process of political- elite formation and its influence on the ability of political elites to lead a peaceful and stable transition to democracy. By comparing the case of Israel before independence and the case of Palestine before the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, this article suggests that gradual political-elite formation from within the domestic population is likely to achieve better democratic results than a political- elite formation in exile, without close ties to the domestic population, that is ‘parachuted’ on the population when the political entity is formed.
Expression of liver‐specific markers in naïve adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Zemel Romy , Bachmetov Larisa , Ad‐El Dean , Abraham Amir , Tur‐Kaspa Ran 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackground: Increasing evidence suggests that adipose tissue contains mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) that possess the ability to transdifferentiate into other cell types including hepatocytes, similar to bone marrow‐derived stem cells. The existence of precommitted cells in the MSC population may explain transdifferentiation.Aims: Our aim was to identify a population of putative hepatocyte‐like precursor cells in human adipose tissue.Methods: We analysed the ‘basal’ hepatic potential of undifferentiated, naïve human adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSC). hADMSC were isolated from human adipose tissue and characterized for cell surface markers and for liver‐specific gene expression.Results: The isolated undifferentiated naïve hADMSCs expressed MSC surface markers. They also expressed α‐fetoprotein, CK18, CK19 and HNF4, which are known as early liver expressing genes. Interestingly, the undifferentiated naïve hADMSC were also positive for albumin, G‐6‐P and α‐1‐antitrypsin (AAT), which are all known to be predominantly expressed in adult liver cells. These cells acquired a hepatocyte‐specific phenotype and function upon treatment with a differentiation medium, resulting in the upregulation of albumin, G‐6‐P and AAT. Moreover, urea production, glycogen storage ability and cellular uptake of indocyanine green, which were absent in the basal state, were evident in the treated cells.Conclusions: Our findings suggest the presence of cells with hepatocyte‐like properties that are isolated from human adipose tissue and that can readily acquire hepatocyte‐like functions. Adipose tissue could thus be an exciting alternative means for repopulating the liver after various injuries, and might serve as a source for the transplantation of liver cells.
Carbohydrate antigen 19‐9 is extremely elevated in polycystic liver disease
Authors: Waanders Esmé , Van Keimpema Loes , Brouwer Johannes T. , Van Oijen Martijn G. H. , Aerts Raymond , Sweep Fred C. G. J. , Nevens Frederik , Drenth Joost P. H. 
Published: June 2009

AbstractBackground/Aims: Carbohydrate antigen 19‐9 (CA19‐9) is used as a biomarker to differentiate benign from malignant gastrointestinal disorders. We examined the value of CA19‐9 measurement in polycystic livers after observing high CA19‐9 cyst fluid levels in a benign polycystic liver case.Methods: We determined CA19‐9 levels in serum (n=120) and hepatic cyst fluid (n=81), from patients with polycystic livers (n=109) and simple hepatic cysts (n=24). Further, we analysed CA19‐9 expression in normal and polycystic liver tissue (n=17).Results: Cyst fluid CA19‐9 levels from both polycystic livers and simple hepatic cysts were extremely high (median 91 000 U/ml, range 14–15 870 000 U/ml; median 85 000 U/ml, range 332–1 744 000 U/ml respectively). Serum CA19‐9 levels were significantly higher in polycystic liver patients (median 30 U/ml, range 0–1200 U/ml) compared with patients with simple hepatic cysts (median 10 U/ml, range 3–200 U/ml, P=0.0011). Serum CA19‐9 levels correlated with those in cyst fluid (r=0.3979, P=0.0399), polycystic liver volume (r=0.3870, P=0.0025) and the size of the largest cyst (simple cysts group; r=0.5319, P=0.0280). Cyst epithelia showed strong CA19‐9 expression. Evacuation of cyst fluid in four patients resulted in a dramatic decrease in the serum CA19‐9 levels (60–95%).Conclusions: CA19‐9 levels are high in the cyst fluid and serum of polycystic liver disease patients due to production and secretion by cyst epithelia. It does not reflect malignancy in these patients and may be of value as a biomarker for intervention efficiency assessment.