bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human renal cells from the thick ascending limb and early distal tubule: Characterization of primary isolated and cultured cells by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction
Authors: BAER PATRICK C , GEIGER HELMUT 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY:Aim:  Human renal tubular cells of well‐defined nephron origin are an important basis in the research of various physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms in the kidney. Whereas an exceeding amount of data has been obtained on proximal tubular cells, only limited data of cells of the human thick ascending limb and the early distal tubule (TALDC) are available.Methods:  TALDC have been isolated immunomagnetically according to their specific antigen expression of Tamm–Horsfall glycoprotein (THG). Cells were either directly processed for analysis or cultured under normal cell culture conditions. Differentiation of primary isolates and cultured cells was assessed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction using characteristic markers. As controls, we used RNA from whole human kidney and cultured HK‐2 cells. Additional characterizations were made by morphological analysis and western blotting.Results:  Primary isolated TALDC express the characteristic markers epidermal growth factor receptor, Na‐K‐2Cl transporter 2, epithelial calcium canal, and THG but were negative for Pax‐2, aquaporin‐2 and ‐3. Cultured TALDC were positive for epidermal growth factor receptor and Na‐K‐2Cl transporter 2 but have lost their epithelial calcium canal and THG expression and started to express Pax‐2. All probes were positive for the specific markers kidney‐specific cadherin and cytokeratin‐8. Furthermore, differentiation of cultured TALDC was shown by cell morphology and their characteristic protein expression pattern.Conclusion:  Our results highlight the purity of primary isolates and the differentiation of cultured TALDC, and show that they can be used as an in vitro system studies of the human thick ascending limb of Henle's loop and early distal tubule.
Pretreatment with granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor attenuated renal ischaemia and reperfusion injury via activation of PI3/Akt signal pathway
Authors: LI YIWEN , WU JIANYONG , SHOU ZHANGFEI , HE QIANG , ZHANG PING , HAN FEI , LI HEN , CHEN JIANGHUA 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY:Aim:  Granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF) has been shown to exert protective effects in various tissues and experimental models of ischaemia‐induced injury. However, the mechanism of renoprotective action in ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) renal injury of G‐CSF was unknown.Methods:  Male C57BL/6J mice, subjected to renal ischaemia for 45 min, 48 h and 7 days reperfusion, were administered either saline, wortmannin, G‐CSF, and G‐CSF plus wortmannin 3 days prior to I/R. Saline‐treated group served as the control. At 48 h and 7 days of reperfusion, the mice were killed.Results:  Significantly, renal dysfunction and morphological injury were identified at 48 h and 7 days after I/R. Wortmannin pretreatment worsened the renal injury significantly. However, G‐CSF pretreatment significantly attenuated renal injury, reduced the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick end labeling‐positive ratio of renal tubular epithelial cells and inflammation cytokine expression in the kidney. Moreover, G‐CSF pretreatment inhibited the expression of Bax and increased the expression of bcl‐2 and p‐Akt in the kidney. Wortmannin blunted the beneficial effects of G‐CSF.Conclusion:  The cytoprotective action of G‐CSF against I/R injury seems to be associated with its anti‐apoptotic action mediated by upregulation of p‐Akt signal pathway.
Chronic hepatitis ameliorates anaemia in haemodialysis patients
Authors: LIN YI‐LUNG , LIN CHI‐WEI , LEE CHIEH‐HUA , LAI I‐CHUN , CHEN HIS‐HSIEN , CHEN TZEN‐WEN 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY:Background:  Study for influence of chronic hepatitis (CH) on anaemia in haemodialysis (HD) patients remains inconclusive. We aim to characterize the red cell status between CH and hepatitis‐free groups among the HD population.Methods:  We retrospectively analysed 80 chronic HD patients from Taipei Medical University Hospital with monthly sampled biochemical study between December 2004 and December 2005. Data classified according to the hepatitis‐free, chronic hepatitis B and C groups were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Student's t‐test and anova were used to determine the mean difference for continuous variables.Results:  Age, Kt/V, systolic or diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, total cholesterol and triglyceride were not different between CH and hepatitis‐free groups. HD duration (P = 0.0002), aspartate (P < 0.0001), alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.0001), alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.04), haemoglobin (P = 0.0066) and haematocrit (P = 0.002) were significantly more elevated in the CH group demanding less erythropoietin dose than in the hepatitis‐free group.Conclusion:  Our study demonstrated that lessoned anaemia was observed in CH, which demanded less erythropoietin dose.
Perinatal protein restriction reduces the inhibitory action of serotonin on food intake
Authors: Lopes de Souza Sandra , Orozco‐Solis Ricardo , Grit Isabelle , Manhães de Castro Raul , Bolaños‐Jiménez Francisco 
Published: March 2008

AbstractEarly malnutrition has been associated with a high risk of developing obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. In animals, poor perinatal nutrition produces hyperphagia and persistent increased levels of serotonin (5‐HT) in the brain. Inasmuch as 5‐HT is directly related to the negative regulation of food intake, here we have investigated whether the anorexic effects of 5‐HT are altered by protein malnutrition. Pregnant Sprague‐Dawley rats were fedad libitumeither a control (20% protein) or a low‐protein (8% protein) diet throughout pregnancy and lactation. At weaning, pups received a standard diet and at 35 days their feeding behaviour was evaluated after the administration ofdl‐fenfluramine (dl‐FEN), an anorexic compound that blocks the reuptake of 5‐HT and stimulates its release. Male offspring born to protein‐restricted dams exhibited significantly decreased body weight and hyperphagia compared with controls.dl‐FEN dose‐dependently reduced the 1 h chow intake at the onset of the dark cycle in both control and undernourished rats. However, the hypophagic effects ofdl‐FEN were significantly attenuated in animals submitted perinatally to protein restriction. The stimulatory action ofdl‐FEN on c‐fos immunoreactivity within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus was also decreased in low‐protein‐fed rats. Further pharmacological analysis with selective 5‐HT1Band 5‐HT2Creceptor agonist showed that the reduced anorexic effects of 5‐HT in malnourished animals were coupled to a desensitization of 5‐HT1Breceptors. These observations indicate that the hyperphagia associated with metabolic programming is at least partially related to a reduced regulatory function of 5‐HT on food intake.
Is there a second fragrance gene in rice?
Authors: Fitzgerald Melissa A. , Sackville Hamilton N. Ruaraidh , Calingacion Mariafe N. , Verhoeven Harrie A. , Butardo Vito M. 
Published: March 2008

SummaryAromatic rice is highly prized by most rice consumers, and many countries cultivate traditional and improved aromatic varieties. 2‐Acetyl‐1‐pyrroline (2AP) is the major aromatic compound in rice, and is believed to accumulate because of an eight‐base‐pair (8‐bp) deletion in an allele at the fragrance locus. In this study, 2AP was quantified and the presence or absence of the fragrance allele (fgr) was determined in 464 samples of traditional varieties of rice from the T.T. Chang Genetic Resources Centre at the International Rice Research Institute. It was shown that a number of aromatic varieties, primarily from South and South‐East Asia, do not carry the 8‐bp deletion, but 2AP was identified in both raw and cooked rice of these varieties. We suggest that the 8‐bp deletion in fgr is not the only cause of aroma, and at least one other mutation drives the accumulation of 2AP. The amount of 2AP in most uniform fgr genotypes was not significantly different from that in aromatic nfgr genotypes, but several fgr genotypes, primarily from South Asia, reproducibly accumulated exceptionally large amounts of 2AP. We suggest that the mutation leading to 2AP in aromatic nfgr varieties possibly originated several times and, through either domestication or evolution, the fgr gene and other alleles leading to 2AP have combined in South Asia, leading to several highly aromatic traditional varieties. The identification of multiple mutations for 2AP will enable rice breeding programmes to select actively for multiple genetic sources of 2AP, leading to the development of highly aromatic and, consequently, high‐quality varieties of rice.
Look Who's Talking: Sources of Variation in Information Disclosure in the UK
Authors: Peccei Riccardo , Bewley Helen , Gospel Howard , Willman Paul 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe article examines the correlates of variable levels of information disclosure by management to employees in the UK. It develops several hypotheses that are tested using 1998 and 2004 Workplace Employment Relations Survey data. The results show that managerial perceptions of goal alignment by employees and the existence of direct participation mechanisms are positively associated with disclosure at both dates. The size of the workplace has a generally negative relationship at both dates, but less so in 2004 than in 1998. Other variables such as financial distress and the presence of trade unions and joint consultation have more complicated relationships over the two time periods. The article discusses theoretical and policy implications of the findings.
Putting grammatical complexity in context
Authors: Rimmer Wayne 
Published: March 2008

AbstractEffective writing is to some degree characterised by the ability to use complex grammatical structures. However, grammatical complexity is poorly defined in linguistics and related disciplines such as literacy. This empirical study examined the notion of grammatical complexity and its relevance to literacy. Complexity is multifaceted, so for reasons of scope the study was confined to nominal structures, i.e. the noun phrase (e.g. I finished the book on Marx) and the nominal clause (e.g. I heard what you were doing). Such nominal structures were analysed by frequency and category in a bank of essays from Year 10/11 pupils in a UK comprehensive school. The results suggest that complexity is a product of the interaction of grammar with the context of production, and that in literacy it is helpful to view grammar as a system of options that can be manipulated to maximise the meaning potential of a text.
ON CLAIMED “ORTHODOXY”, QUIBBLING WITH WORDS, AND SOME SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS: A COMMENT ON THE TILLEY‐D'COSTA DEBATE ABOUT RELIGIOUS PLURALISM
Authors: SCHMIDT‐LEUKEL PERRY 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe article provides critical comments on three features of the recent debate between Terrence W. Tilley and Gavin D'Costa in Modern Theology. The use of the Vatican document Dominus Iesus as a parameter of “Christian” or even “Roman Catholic orthodoxy” is criticized as being presumptuous and highly questionable. Further it is argued that Tilley's and D'Costa's disagreement is less substantial than they claim and is largely rooted in contradictory statements within Dominus Iesus itself. Finally, it is held that their consensus in relation to the status of other religions displays an inability to overcome triumphalism and supersessionism, and entails, in line with Dominus Iesus, that other religions are “gravely deficient”.
Psoriasis and diabetes: a population‐based cross‐sectional study
Authors: Cohen AD , Dreiher J , Shapiro Y , Vidavsky L , Vardy DA , Davidovici B , Meyerovitch J 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBackground  Previous reports have shown an association between psoriasis and the metabolic syndrome, but there are only a few studies on the association between psoriasis and diabetes.Objectives  To study the association between psoriasis and diabetes.Methods  A cross‐sectional study was performed utilizing the database of Clalit Health Services (CHS). Patients who were diagnosed with psoriasis were compared with CHS enrolees without psoriasis regarding the prevalence of diabetes. Patients with diabetes were identified using the CHS chronic diseases registry. Chi‐squared tests were used to compare categorical parameters. Logistic regression models were used for multivariate analyses.Results  The study included 16 851 patients with psoriasis and 74 987 subjects without psoriasis (control patients). The proportion of diabetes was significantly higher in patients above 35 years (P < 0.05). The age‐adjusted proportion of diabetes was significantly higher in psoriasis patients as compared to the control group [odds ratio (OR), 1.38, P < 0.05] and was similar in men and women (OR, 1.32, 1.45, respectively). A multivariate logistic regression model showed that psoriasis was significantly associated with diabetes, independently of age and gender (OR, 1.58, P < 0.001).Conclusions  Our study supports previous reports of an association between psoriasis and diabetes. Dermatologists taking care of patients with psoriasis should be aware of this association and advise the patients to reduce additional risk factors such as smoking, hypertension or dyslipidemia.
Oral manifestations of adverse drug reactions: guidelines
Authors: Femiano F , Lanza A , Buonaiuto C , Gombos F , Rullo R , Festa V , Cirillo N 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBackground  Adverse drug reactions are noxious and unintended responses to a medicinal product.Many drugs have the potential to induce adverse reactions in the mouth. The extent of such reactions is unknown; however, because a lot of them are asymptomatic, many are believed to go unnoticed. Adverse oral drug reactions are responsible for oral lesions and manifestations that can mime local or systemic disease.Their pathogenesis, especially of the mucosal reactions, is largely unknown and appears to involve complex interactions between the drug in question, other medications, the patient's underlying disease, genetics and lifestyle factors.Aim  In this study, we have listed the principal signs and symptoms of oral and perioral adverse drug reactions and the responsible drugs. Diagnosis for adverse drug reaction is not easy given also the limited utility of laboratory tests. The association between a drug and an adverse drug reaction is mostly based on the disappearance of the reactions following discontinuance of the offending drug.Sometimes, it is useful to perform rechallenge tests reintroducing the drug to establish cause and effect.Conclusions  Knowledge of adverse drug‐induced oral effects helps health professionals to better diagnose oral disease, administer drugs and improve patient compliance during drug therapy and may foster a more rational use of drugs.
Diffusion of efficacious interventions for children and adolescents with mental health problems
Authors: Graeff‐Martins Ana Soledade , Flament Martine F. , Fayyad John , Tyano Sam , Jensen Peter , Rohde Luis Augusto 
Published: March 2008

Background:  Child and adolescent mental health problems are prevalent and require adequate interventions. Despite several evidence‐based interventions for these problems described in the literature, few studies addressed strategies to diffuse efficacious interventions for child mental disorders especially in developing countries.Methods:  An extensive but not systematic review of the literature was performed aiming to identify evidence‐based interventions for children and adolescents with mental disorders, professionals to target in disseminating these interventions, and the available strategies to diffuse information.Results:  Substantial evidence‐based information is available to guide preventive, psychosocial and psychopharmacological interventions. The effectiveness of treatments in real‐world settings and the cost‐effectiveness of interventions are rarely tested. Professionals at different levels (teachers, school counselors, social workers, general practitioners, pediatricians, child psychologists and psychiatrists) should be targeted in diffusing efficacious interventions for child mental health problems worldwide. Telepsychiatry and the internet seem to be the most promising strategies to diffuse knowledge with lower costs.Conclusions:  Medical and allied professionals must incorporate child and adolescent mental health issues in their under‐ and postgraduate curricula, and be better prepared to critically evaluate available information. Professionals need to disseminate evidence‐based programs to guide parents and teachers in developing countries to deal with child and adolescent difficulties. Countries need to explore internet solutions for dissemination of medical information.
Models of intrapartum care and women’s trade‐offs in remote and rural Scotland: a mixed‐methods study
Authors: Pitchforth E , Watson V , Tucker J , Ryan M , Van Teijlingen E , Farmer J , Ireland J , Thomson E , Kiger A , Bryers H 
Published: March 2008

Objective  To explore women’s preferences for, and trade‐offs between, key attributes of intrapartum care models.Design  Mixed‐methods study using discrete choice experiments (DCEs) and focus groups.Setting  The North of Scotland.Population  Women from the catchment areas of eight rural maternity units in the North of Scotland.Methods  Based on current policy, ‘model of care’ and ‘time travelled’ were selected as key attributes of intrapartum care in remote and rural settings. A DCE questionnaire explored women’s preferences for and trade‐offs between these attributes. Focus groups validated the DCE attributes and provided valuable information about the drivers of women’s preferences for place of delivery.Main outcome measures  Preferences for attributes of intrapartum care.Results  Eight focus groups were conducted, and 877 eligible women completed the questionnaire. Overall, the DCE results found women preferred delivery in a unit to home birth and consultant‐led care (CLC) to midwife‐managed care (MMC). Women preferring CLC associated it with covering every eventuality and increased safety. Although women preferred shorter travel times, trade‐offs indicated a willingness to travel for approximately 2 hours to get one’s preferred choice. Focus group findings and subgroup DCE analysis showed heterogeneity of preferences related to experience, risk status, geographic location, perception of care and family circumstances.Conclusions  In contrast to service redesign offering local midwife‐managed intrapartum care, most rural women in our study expressed a preference to give birth in hospital and have CLC because they felt safer. Women were willing to travel for this but within limits. Qualitative results showed that women’s preferences were influenced by their home and family context, beliefs and previous pregnancy experiences. Challenges for service redesign are to provide comprehensive obstetric services within acceptable travel time, while responding to the heterogeneity of women’s preferences.
Outcome of anaemic monochorionic single survivors following early intrauterine rescue transfusion in cases of feto‐fetal transfusion syndrome
Authors: Quarello E , Stirnemann J , Nassar M , Nasr B , Bernard J‐P , Leleu‐Huard F , Ville Y 
Published: March 2008

Objective  To evaluate the outcome of severely anaemic monochorionic (MC) twins surviving the death of their co‐twin following early intrauterine rescue transfusion in cases of feto‐fetal transfusion syndrome (FFTS).Study design  We reviewed all MC pregnancies complicated with FFTS following primary management, in which a single intrauterine fetal death (IUFD) was diagnosed with certainty within 24 hours between January 1999 and December 2006. We included MC survivors who presented ultrasound or Doppler features of fetal anaemia following the death of their co‐twin. Intrauterine transfusion (IUT) was given to all survivors who were anaemic.Results  Nineteen MC twin pregnancies presented a single intrauterine death (IUD) associated with an anaemic co‐twin. Median gestational age at IUD was 23 [20–28] weeks. The median interval between IUD and IUT was 12 [8–24] hours. There were 58% (11/19) healthy survivors. Perinatal death rate was 26% (5/19) including 16% (3/19) intrauterine and 10% (2/19) neonatal deaths. Abnormal prenatal cerebral findings developed in 21% (4/19) cases, always within 1 month after the death of the co‐twin. Considering occlusive techniques and other management separately, there were 64% (7/11) and 50% (4/8) healthy survivors, respectively, and perinatal death occurred in 36% (4/11) and 12.5% (1/8) of fetuses, respectively. Prenatal fetal cerebral lesions developed in 9% (1/11) of cases following occlusive techniques and in 37.5% (3/8) of fetuses when managed differently. The median gestational age at delivery in the survivors was 31 [25–38] weeks.Conclusion  In cases of FFTS with single anaemic survivors, early IUT could be offered following extensive counselling and close follow up.
An estimation of intrapartum‐related perinatal mortality rates for booked home births in England and Wales between 1994 and 2003
Authors: Mori R , Dougherty M , Whittle M 
Published: March 2008

Objective  The objective of this study was to obtain the best estimate of intrapartum‐related perinatal mortality (IPPM) rates for booked home births.Design  A population‐based cross‐sectional study.Setting  England and Wales.Subjects  All births in England and Wales, including home births (intended or unintended) occurring between 1994 and 2003.Methods  All IPPM data were derived from the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health. Denominators were derived by using unintended home births and transfer rates from home to hospital, from previous studies, with sensitivity analyses. IPPM rates were calculated for the three following subgroups: (a) the completed home birth group, (b) the transferred group and (c) the unintended home birth group.Outcome  IPPM rate.Results  The overall IPPM rate for England and Wales improved between 1994 and 2003. However, data to obtain a precise estimate of IPPM rate for booked home birth were not available. The average IPPM rate for all births in the study period was 0.79 per 1000 births (95% CI 0.77–0.81), and the estimated IPPM rate for booked home births was 1.28 or 0.74 per 1000 births, depending on the method of calculation (range 0.49–1.47). The IPPM rates for the completed home birth group appeared to be lower throughout the study period compared with the unintended home birth groups. Those women who had booked for a home birth, but later needed to transfer their care for a hospital birth, appeared to have the highest risk of IPPM in the study period.Conclusions  The results of this study need to be interpreted with caution due to inconsistencies occurring in the recorded data. However, the data do highlight two important features. First, they suggest that IPPM rates for home births do not appear to have improved over the study period examined, even though rates did so overall. Second, although the women who booked for home births and had their babies at home seemed to have a generally low IPPM rate, those who required their care to be transferred to hospital did not. Women who book for home births should be offered comprehensive evidence‐based information about the potential benefits, risks and uncertainties associated with their choice of birthplace by the healthcare professional responsible for supporting their decision. It is of considerable concern that the data recorded nationally in England and Wales do not provide accurate information about when and why a transfer from home to hospital booking occurs and about their outcomes.