bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of measles virus RNA on SYBR green real‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Ito Masahiro , Suga Tomoko , Akiyoshi Kyoko , Nukuzuma Souichi , Kon‐no Mayumi , Umegaki Yasuhiro , Kohdera Urara , Ihara Toshiaki 
Published: March 2010

AbstractBackground:  As the coverage rate of the measles vaccine increases, not all patients present the typical symptoms of measles after exposure to the measles virus (MV). The virus loads in clinical specimens from patients with vaccine‐modified non‐typical measles are expected to be low compared with those of primary MV infection. A rapid and sensitive laboratory procedure is required for diagnosis of measles.Methods:  SYBR Green (TaKaRa) and TaqMan (ABI) real‐time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) assays were developed to detect MV‐RNA. For the real‐time RT‐PCR, primer sets were designed from a region of the MV H gene of the Edmonston strain (genotype A). A TaqMan probe specific for the H gene of genotype D MV was used. The minimum detectable level of MV‐RNA in the SYBR Green and TaqMan real‐time RT‐PCR assays was evaluated using synthetic MV‐RNA. The sensitivity of real‐time RT‐PCR was compared with that of nested RT‐PCR and the virus isolation method using throat swabs and peripheral blood samples from patients with measles.Results:  The minimum detectable level of RNA was 10 and 102 copies for SYBR Green RT‐PCR and TaqMan RT‐PCR, respectively. Ten–106 copies of standard RNA were linearly detected on SYBR Green RT‐PCR. The sensitivity of SYBR Green RT‐PCR was equal to that of nested RT‐PCR. MV‐RNA was detected in virus isolation‐negative throat swabs on SYBR Green RT‐PCR.Conclusion:  SYBR Green RT‐PCR is a highly sensitive, rapid, and useful diagnostic procedure for the detection of MV.
Effects of early enteral feeding on fecal elastase 1 and plasma secretin
Authors: Kaneko Noritsugu , Hisata Ken , Shoji Hiromichi , Tanaka Kyoko , Nakazawa Tomoyuki , Shimizu Toshiaki 
Published: March 2010

AbstractBackground:  Enteral feeding is known to be effective on the development of gut hormone secretion and pancreatic exocrine function. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of extremely early enteral feedings on the development in very low‐birthweight (VLBW) infants.Methods:  Fecal elastase 1 and plasma secretin concentrations were measured at four different periods during the first 28 days of life in VLBW infants, with extremely early enteral feeding starting within 24 h of birth, as well as in control infants.Results:  Fecal concentrations of elastase 1 at 7, 14 and 28 days after birth were significantly higher than those at 1 or 2 days in both the early feeding and control groups. Fecal elastase 1 levels in the early feeding group were significantly higher than those in the control group at 7 and 14 days after birth. The plasma concentration of secretin at 14 days after birth was significantly higher than that at 1 or 2 days and 7 days after birth in the early feeding group. No significant differences in plasma secretin levels were detected between the early feeding and control groups at 1 or 2 days, 7 days and 28 days after birth, but a significant difference in secretin level was observed between the two groups at 14 days after birth.Conclusions:  Extremely early enteral feedings may play an important role in the development of pancreatic exocrine function and secretin secretion in the early period of life in VLBW infants.
Itraconazole for invasive fungal infection with pediatric malignancies
Authors: Kobayashi Ryoji , Suzuki Daisuke , Yasuda Kazue , Kobayashi Kunihiko 
Published: March 2010

AbstractBackground:  Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is an increasingly common and often fatal infection in children with hematological malignancies and solid tumor. Prophylactic therapy with anti‐fungal agents is very important for these patients, because the early diagnosis of IFI is very difficult.Procedure:  A total of 0.5 mL/kg per day of itraconazole oral solution (ITCZ‐OS) was administered in twice‐daily doses to 22 children with hematological malignancies who had received chemotherapy, and its usefulness and safety regarding the prevention of IFI were examined.Result:  Prophylactic therapy with ITCZ‐OS was completed in 18 (81.8%) of the 22 children. Of these, IFI was not strongly suspected in any child. Side‐effects included non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis in two children, syndrome of inappropriate anti‐diuretic hormone secretion in one, and liver dysfunction in one. The administration of ITCZ‐OS was discontinued in these cases. These four children had received vincristine sulfate (VCR) or irinotecan hydrochloride, which were reported to interact with ITCZ. In most children the plasma levels of ITCZ were satisfactory. The plasma levels, however, were slightly increased in VCR‐treated children; ITCZ should be carefully administered.Conclusion:  Although the number of subjects was small in the present study, the plasma concentrations of ITCZ‐OS favorably increased in the children with hematological malignancies, suggesting that this agent exhibits prophylactic effects on IFI. It must be considered, however, that some combined agents cause side‐effects via their interactions with ITCZ.
Current therapy of acute uncomplicated cystitis
Authors: Yamamoto Shingo , Higuchi Yoshihide , Nojima Michio 
Published: March 2010

AbstractAcute uncomplicated cystitis (AUC) is one of the most common bacterial urinary tract infections. AUC frequently occurs in young sexually active, as well as postmenopausal, women. According to the guidelines published by the Infectious Diseases Society of America in 1999, the standard antimicrobial regimen for treatment of AUC is 3 days with trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX); however, today the most popular antibiotics are the fluoroquinolones because of the emergence of uropathogens that are resistant to TMP/SMX. Fluoroquinolone resistance is also increasing worldwide, although the resistance rates have not been as high as those for TMP/SMX. Extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase (ESBL)‐producing strains are another problem because most nosocomial ESBL producers are also resistant to non‐β‐lactams, such as the fluoroquinolones. Under such circumstances, 3 days of therapy with fluoroquinolones or 7 days with β‐lactams is recommended for empirical therapy, although these regimens should be re‐evaluated in the next decade. Low‐dose fluoroquinolones should no longer be used because of the potential for emergence of resistance.
Association of circulating tumor cells with tumor‐related methylated DNA in patients with hormone‐refractory prostate cancer
Authors: Okegawa Takatsugu , Nutahara Kikuo , Higashihara Eiji 
Published: March 2010

Objectives:  To assess whether circulating tumor cells with tumor‐related methylated DNA can be used to predict survival in patients with hormone‐refractory prostate cancer.Methods:  Blood samples from 76 patients with hormone‐refractory prostate cancer were analyzed. Circulating tumor cells were enumerated with the CellSearch System in whole blood. This system was developed using an epithelial cell adhesion molecule antibody‐based immunomagnetic capture and automated staining methodology. Hypermethylation at adenomatosis polyposis coli, glutathione‐S‐transferase‐π, prostaglandin‐endoperoxide synthase 2, multidrug resistance 1 and Ras association domain family 1 isoform A was analyzed using a sensitive SYBR green methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction. Patient charts were retrospectively examined.Results:  Median overall survival time was 19.3 months (range 11–48). Of the 76 patients, 47 (62%) had five or more circulating tumor cells, with a median overall survival of 12.0 months compared with 26.0 months for patients with fewer than five circulating tumor cells (P < 0.001). Circulating tumor cells were detected in 36 of 39 (92%) patients with tumor‐related methylated DNA but only 11 of 37 (30%) patients without methylated DNA (P < 0.001). Thirty‐nine (51%) patients had one or more methylated marker. Their median overall survival time was 12.0 months compared with 48.0 months or more for patients without methylated DNA (P < 0.001). Prostate‐specific antigen‐doubling time, circulating tumor cells and methylated DNA were independent predictors of overall survival time.Conclusions:  Hormone refractory prostate cancer patients with circulating tumor cells and/or tumor‐related methylated DNA show a significantly poorer outcome than those without these blood markers.
The evolution of floral scent and insect chemical communication
Authors: Schiestl Florian P. 
Published: March 2010

Ecology Letters(2010) 13: 643–656AbstractPlants have evolved a range of strategies to manipulate the behaviour of their insect partners. One powerful strategy is to produce signals that already have a role in the animals’ own communication systems. To investigate to what extent the evolution of floral scents is correlated with chemical communication in insects, I analyse the occurrence, commonness, and evolutionary patterns of the 71 most common ‘floral’ volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in 96 plant families and 87 insect families. I found an overlap of 87% in VOCs produced by plants and insects. ‘Floral’ monoterpenes showed strong positive correlation in commonness between plants (both gymnosperms and angiosperms) and herbivores, whereas the commonness of ‘floral’ aromatics was positively correlated between angiosperms and both pollinators and herbivores. According to a multivariate regression analysis the commonness of ‘floral’ aromatics was best explained by their commonness in pollinators, whereas monoterpenes were best explained by herbivores. Among pollinator orders, aromatics were significantly more common in Lepidoptera than in Hymenoptera, whereas monoterpenes showed no difference among the two orders. Collectively, these patterns suggest that plants and insects converge in overall patterns of volatile production, both for attraction and defence. Monoterpenes seem to have evolved primarily for defence under selection by herbivores, whereas aromatics evolved signalling functions in angiosperms, primarily for pollinator attraction.
Volvulus of the sigmoid colon
Authors: Raveenthiran V. , Madiba T. E. , Atamanalp S. S. , De U. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractAims The current status of sigmoid volvulus (SV) was reviewed to assess trends in management and to assess the literature.Method The literature on SV was retrieved using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Pakmedinet, African Journals online (AJOL), Indmed and Google scholar. These databases were searched for text words including ‘sigmoid’, ‘colon’ and ‘volvulus’. Relevant nonindexed surgical journals published from endemic countries were also manually searched. We focused on original articles published within the last 10 years; but classical references prior to this period were also included. Seminal papers published in non‐English languages were also included.Results Sigmoid volvulus is a leading cause of acute colonic obstruction in South America, Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia. It is rare in developed countries such as USA, UK, Japan and Australia. Characteristic geographic variations in the incidence, clinical features, prognosis and comorbidity of SV justify recognition of endemic and sporadic subtypes. Controversy on aetiologic agents can be minimized by classifying them into ‘predisposing’ and ‘precipitating’ factors. Modern imaging systems, although more effective than plain radiographs, are yet to gain popularity. Emergency endoscopic reduction is the treatment of choice in uncomplicated patients. But it is only a temporizing procedure, and it should be followed in most cases by elective definitive surgery. Resection of the redundant sigmoid colon is the gold standard operation. The role of newer nonresective alternatives is yet to be ascertained. Although emergency resection with primary anastomosis (ERPA) has been controversial in the past, it is now increasingly accepted as a safe option with superior results. Management in elderly debilitated patients is extremely difficult. Paediatric SV significantly differs from that in adults. SV is frequently associated with neuropsychiatric diseases, diabetes mellitus and Chagas disease. The overall mortality in recent studies is < 5%.Conclusion There are almost no randomised controlled studies. According to the grading system of Oxford Center for Evidence Based Medicine (CEVM), available published evidence is at level 4. The recommendations resulting form this review are of ‘C’ grade.
Eating up the food web
Authors: Levin Phillip S , Dufault Aaron 
Published: March 2010

AbstractCrafting effective responses to problems faced by the world’s oceans requires that we grasp the social drivers compelling harmful patterns of ocean use. One of the disquieting consequences of fishing is reduction in the mean trophic level of commercially captured species (fishing down the food web). While the trophic level of fisheries catch has declined in nearly two‐thirds of the world’s ecosystems, the social drivers underpinning this have been assumed or asserted, not quantified. Here, we examine patterns in seafood cookbooks as a means to gain insight into the social drivers underlying the changes observed in the trophic level of capture fisheries. We searched libraries in Washington and Oregon, U.S. for seafood cookbooks published within the U.S. Pacific Northwest. We uncovered 3092 recipes published between 1885 and 2007 that met our criteria. We found large increases in average trophic level of recipes over time (‘eating up the food web’). This occurred largely because low trophic level invertebrates decreased in their frequency, while the representation of high‐trophic level rockfish (Sebastes spp.), increased. We contend that cookbooks reveal much about the societal value of high trophic level species. Ultimately, sustainability of fisheries and marine ecosystems is not solely a biophysical problem – sustainability must also include the viability of socially shaped relationships between people and the sea. Knowledge of the drivers underlying the pattern of ‘eating up the food web’ should aide in developing policies that move beyond managing pressures (fishing), but also deal with the social drivers that generate those pressures.
Dentofacial characteristics as indicator of obstructive sleep apnoea‐hypopnoea syndrome in patients with severe obesity
Authors: Maciel Santos M. E. S. , Laureano Filho J. R. , Campos J. M. , Ferraz E. M. 
Published: March 2010

SummaryObstructive sleep apnoea‐hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) is a complex disease with a multifactor aetiology. OSAHS is strongly associated with obesity, but there are many other clinical risk factors, such as the dentofacial characteristics of hard and soft tissues, hyoid bone position, neck circumference, upper airway spaces and nasal respiration. A descriptive cross‐sectional study was carried out involving 13 patients (one man and 12 women) with severe obesity in order to evaluate specific physical dentofacial characteristics through a cephalometric examination. Cephalometry was analysed using 29 measurements of the hard and soft tissues of the craniofacial structures and dimensions of the upper airways. The demographic data revealed a mean body mass index of 48 ± 6.26 kg m−2 and cervical circumference of 43 ± 3.69 cm. No patient exhibited important facial asymmetry and facial types 1 (normal) and 3 (mandible forward) were the most prevalent. Septal deviation was observed in 46% of patients. The most prevalent modified Mallampati index score was between 3 and 4, while grade 1 was the most prevalent tonsillar hypertrophy index score (46%). Cephalometry revealed angular and linear measurements with normally acceptable values for the hard tissues. Obese patients seem to have a normal craniofacial structure and the risk of developing OSAHS is especially related to obesity.
Therapeutic and experimental therapeutic studies on acupuncture and itch: review of the literature
Authors: Carlsson CP , Wallengren J 
Published: March 2010

AbstractItch accompanies most inflammatory skin diseases but may occur as a solitary sensation in otherwise normal skin. Chronic itch often requires combined treatments but some cases remain therapy resistant. Complementary medicine is becoming increasingly popular among patients. Acupuncture is the oldest and most well‐studied alternative option with evidence‐based effect on pain. This article summarizes the rational for the use of acupuncture in treatment of itch and reviews therapeutic and experimental therapeutic studies on acupuncture and itch.
The epidemiology of adolescent acne in North East China
Authors: Wei B , Pang Y , Zhu H , Qu L , Xiao T , Wei H‐C , Chen H‐D , He C‐D 
Published: March 2010

AbstractBackground  Adolescent acne impacts self‐esteem and quality of life in adolescents and its aetiology is not fully clarified.Objective  The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological features of adolescent acne in North East China and determine the impact of genetic and environmental factors on the pathogenesis of acne.Methods  Data were collected from 5696 undergraduates (2920 patients and 2776 controls) using questionnaire. The survey data were analysed using spss version 13.0 and heritability of adolescent acne was calculated using Falconer’s method.Results  Total prevalence of adolescent acne was 51.30% (52.74% in males, 49.65% in females). The difference between genders was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Adolescents with a family history of acne had earlier age of onset (P < 0.001). The prevalence of acne in first‐ and second‐degree relatives of acne patients was 22.5% and 7.19%, respectively, significantly higher than in controls (P < 0.001). Heritability of adolescent acne was 78.47 ± 2.05% in first‐degree relatives and 75.05 ± 3.18% in second‐degree relatives. Risk factors to the acne suffers include (in descending order of occurrence), acne family history, mental stress, menstrual disorder, frequent insomnia, high fat diet, being male, dysmenorrhoea, anxiety, sleeping < 8 h per day, depression, fried food, study pressure, spicy food, oily skin and mixed type skin. Protective factors include (presented in descending order of occurrence) dry skin, neutral skin, frequent fruit consumption and computer access time < 2 h daily.Conclusion  Adolescent acne includes a familial genetic predisposition. Additional environmental factors of psychological stress, skin oiliness and high caloric diets may also contribute to the onset of acne in Chinese adolescents.
Successful treatment of ulcerated haemangioma with propranolol
Authors: Naouri M , Schill T , Maruani A , Bross F , Lorette G , Rossler J 
Published: March 2010

AbstractBackground  Ulceration is a frequent complication of proliferating haemangioma.Methods  Four patients with ulcerated hemangioma aged 2, 4, 5 months and 5 weeks were treated with 2 mg/kg KG propranolol.Results  Efficacy and safety of propranolol were excellent in all four cases.Conclusions  Propranolol may be the first‐choice therapy for ulcerated haemangioma.
Complications of ambulatory major dermatological surgery in patients older than 85 years
Authors: Paradela S , Pita‐Fernández S , Peña C , Fernández‐Jorge B , García‐Silva J , Mazaira M , Fonseca E 
Published: March 2010

AbstractBackground  During the last decades, the progressive ageing of the population has resulted in a rising skin cancer incidence. Although previous studies detected no higher morbidity for dermatological surgery in senior patients, their exclusion from optimal surgical treatment remains as a common clinical practice.Objective  The aim of this study was to determine the diseases treated with ambulatory major dermatological surgery, the surgical morbidity and the associated variables in ≥85 year‐old patients.Patients/methods  This is an observational study on 247 successive patients older than 85 years of age who underwent dermatological surgery in a single Ambulatory Mayor Surgery unit. Studied variables were age, gender, tobacco‐alcohol exposure, co‐morbid medical conditions, blood‐thinning medication, antibiotic prophylaxis, number of lesions, location, histopathological diagnosis, area of skin removed, surgical technique, type of flap, length of surgery, entrance order, suture thread, surgical complications and need of post‐operative admission.Results  The most common site was head and neck (82.7%). The most frequent tumour was basal cell carcinoma (45.1%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (38.7%) and melanoma (8.3%). Direct closure was the most frequent procedure (55.6%). Of the total number of patients, 7.9% of patients suffered complications; necrosis followed by cellulitis were the most frequent. Length of surgical procedure, area of skin removed and reconstruction with skin‐graft were significantly related to higher risk of post‐operative complications.Conclusions  No intra or post‐surgical mortality or life‐threatening local complications were detected. Most post‐surgical local complications appeared after wide excisions and complex reconstruction techniques that prolonged the length of the surgery.
Hydrostratigraphy as a control on subduction zone mechanics through its effects on drainage: an example from the Nankai Margin, SW Japan
Authors: SAFFER D. M. 
Published: March 2010

Geofluids (2010) 10, 114–131AbstractAt many subduction zones, accretionary complexes form as sediments are offscraped from the subducting plate, and excess pore pressures commonly develop as low‐permeability marine sediments undergo rapid tectonically driven loading. Mechanical models demonstrate that pore pressure controls the overall geometry of these systems by modifying shear strength both within the accretionary wedge and along its base. At the Nankai margin offshore SW Japan, the taper angle of the accretionary wedge varies markedly along‐strike, from ∼4° along an eastern (Muroto) transect, to 8–10°along a western (Ashizuri) transect. Sediment stratigraphy on the subducting plate also varies: along the Ashizuri transect, the lowermost part of the section includes abundant sandy turbidites, whereas along the Muroto transect it is composed of monotonous hemipelagic mudstone. Here, I use a numerical model of fluid flow, together with laboratory measurements that constrain the bulk mudstone permeability, to quantitatively test the hypothesis that the turbidite‐rich section along the Ashizuri transect allows drainage at the base of the accretionary complex, resulting in differences in mechanical strength sufficient to cause the differences in taper angle. My results demonstrate that if the turbidite‐rich units are 2–100 times more permeable than the mudstone units, the variation in stratigraphy can indeed explain the observed taper angles. In contrast, permeability anisotropy within the turbidite‐rich units has only a minor effect; anisotropy ratios of ∼1000:1 would be required to cause the differences in taper angle. Along the Ashizuri transect, simulated pore pressures result in a basal shear strength ranging from a few MPa at the trench to ∼20 MPa by 30 km arcward; along the Muroto transect shear strength is substantially lower, reaching only ∼5 MPa by 30 km. This work shows that lithostratigraphy can strongly influence the mechanical behavior of subduction zone faults, through its control on the distribution and magnitude of excess pore pressure.