bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Eosinophilic oesophagitis in patients presenting with dysphagia – a prospective analysis
Authors: MACKENZIE S. H. , GO M. , CHADWICK B. , THOMAS K. , FANG J. , KUWADA S. , LAMPHIER S. , HILDEN K. , PETERSON K. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryBackground  Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoO) may be a common finding in adults presenting with dysphagia.Aim  To identify the risk factors and prevalence of EoO in an adult population with dysphagia.Methods  All patients with dysphagia referred for an upper endoscopy (EGD) were asked to participate. Patients completed a detailed questionnaire followed by EGD with four quadrant biopsies in the distal and mid‐oesophagus. Primary endpoint was the prevalence of EoO; secondary endpoints included age, gender, asthma, food allergies, gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease/dysphagia score and endoscopic findings.Results  Two hundred and sixty‐one patients enrolled between December 2005 and January 2007. Thirty‐one patients (12%) met pathological criteria for EoO. There was no difference in EoO prevalence within each gender. Mean age of EoO patients was 42 ± 15 vs. 61 ± 15 for non‐EoO patients (P < 0.001). EoO was diagnosed in 35% of patients <50 years of age. EoO was present in 22% of asthmatics vs. 9% non‐asthmatics (P < 0.01). EoO was present in 36.8% of patients with self‐reported food allergies vs. 9.3% those without allergy (P < 0.001). A 13/31(42%) of EoO patients did not have the classic EGD findings (rings ± furrows) and would have been missed without oesophageal biopsies.Conclusions  Eosinophilic oesophagitis was diagnosed in 12% of the patients presenting with dysphagia with relative risk of 9.5 if age <50 years. Oesophageal biopsies are warranted in patients presenting with dysphagia especially in the younger population. Patients may not present with classic endoscopic findings and EoO can be missed without biopsies.
Meta‐analysis: treatment of hepatitis B infection reduces risk of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: SUNG J. J. Y. , TSOI K. K. F. , WONG V. W. S. , LI K. C. T. , CHAN H. L. Y. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryBackground  Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection leads to development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the effects of treatment in preventing HCC are not clear.Aim  To study the effects of interferon (IFN) or nucleoside/tide analogue (NA) on the risk of developing HCC in CHB patients.Methods  Randomized trials, case–control and cohort studies were retrieved from five electronic databases and international conferences over the past 10 years. Relative risks (RRs) of HCC with or without treatment were studied.Results  Twelve studies (n = 2742) enrolling patients treated by IFN vs. control showed that the risk of HCC after treatment was reduced by 34% (RR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.48–0.89). Benefit is more significant among patients with early cirrhosis than among those without cirrhosis. Five studies (n = 2289) compared patients treated by NA with control. The risk of HCC after treatment was reduced by 78% (RR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.10–0.50). HBeAg‐positive patients showed more significantly reduced HCC risk with treatment. Patients without cirrhosis benefited more from NA than those with cirrhosis. Resistance to NA has obviated the benefit of the treatment.Conclusions  IFN or NA treatment significantly reduces risk of HCC. While IFN benefited patients with cirrhosis, NA benefited patients with no cirrhosis and HBeAg‐positive CHB infection.
Prospective validation of the short form liver disease quality of life instrument
Authors: KANWAL F. , SPIEGEL B. M. R. , HAYS R. D. , DURAZO F. , HAN S. B. , SAAB S. , BOLUS R. , KIM S. J. , GRALNEK I. M. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryBackground  Despite the realization that health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) is an important outcome in patients with liver disease, there is scarcity of disease‐targeted HRQOL measures that have undergone prospective evaluation.Aim  To validate prospectively the short form of liver disease quality of life instrument (the SF‐LDQOL) in patients with advanced liver disease.Methods  The SF‐LDQOL includes 36 disease‐targeted items representing nine domains: symptoms of liver disease, effects of liver disease, memory/concentration, sleep, hopelessness, distress, loneliness, stigma of liver disease and sexual problems. We administered the SF‐LDQOL to 156 advanced liver disease patients at baseline and at 6‐month follow‐up. We estimated internal consistency reliability for multi‐item scales, item discrimination across scale and evaluated construct validity by estimating the associations of SF‐LDQOL scores with SF‐36 scores, symptom severity and disability days. To evaluate the SF‐LDQOL’s responsiveness, we compared HRQOL changes for patients who received with those who did not receive liver transplantation (LT).Results  The internal consistency reliability coefficients were ≥0.70 for seven of nine scales in baseline and for all scales in follow‐up administration. The SF‐LDQOL correlated highly with SF‐36 scores, symptom severity, disability days and global health. Patients undergoing LT reported improved HRQOL compared with patients without LT and the responsiveness indices were excellent.Conclusions  This study provides support for the reliability and validity of the SF‐LDQOL in patients with advanced chronic liver disease. This instrument may be useful in everyday clinical practice and in future clinical trials.
An analysis of predictive factors for healing and mortality in patients with enterocutaneous fistulas
Authors: MAWDSLEY J. E. , HOLLINGTON P. , BASSETT P. , WINDSOR A. J. , FORBES A. , GABE S. M. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryBackground  Most studies of enterocutaneous fistula report management and outcome. Few studies examine factors predicting healing and mortality.Aim  To identify factors predicting healing and mortality in patients with ECF managed either with a definitive attempt at surgical closure or conservatively.Methods  The case notes of 277 patients with enterocutaneous fistula, treated at our institution over a 10 year period, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into those managed operatively or conservatively. Eleven factors were examined for their relationship to fistula healing and fistula‐related mortality.Results  For patients treated operatively, successful enterocutaneous fistula closure related only to the complexity of the fistula (multiple fistula or presence of an internal abscess cavity) (P = 0.03), whereas fistula‐related mortality related only to the presence of comorbidity (P = 0.02). In patients managed conservatively, a decreased likelihood of enterocutaneous fistula closure was associated with a high fistula output (P = 0.01), comorbidity (P = 0.03) and being referred from an external institution (P < 0.001). Fistula related‐mortality in this group was related to a high output (P = 0.003) and an increased age (P = 0.001).Conclusion  In patients managed operatively, fistula healing and fistula‐related mortality are each associated with only one factor, whereas in patients managed conservatively healing and mortality are predicted by three and two factors, respectively.
Systematic review: the evidence base for long‐term management of coeliac disease
Authors: HAINES M. L. , ANDERSON R. P. , GIBSON P. R. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryBackground While gluten‐free diet is an effective treatment for coeliac disease, the need for and goals of long‐term management of patients are poorly defined.Aim To review systematically the complications and associations of coeliac disease, to identify potential risk factors, to define ways of assessing risk factors and to provide a strategy for management.Methods Review of medical literature from 1975.Results There is an increasing list of potential complications and/or conditions associated with coeliac disease, in particular, autoimmune disease, malignancy and bone disease. Risk factors that may predict or influence long‐term outcomes include genetic susceptibility, environmental factors predominantly gluten ingestion, persistent small intestinal inflammation/injury and nutritional deficiencies. Genotyping of patients is yet to have an established clinical role in long‐term management. Assessment of adherence to the gluten‐free diet largely relies upon skilled dietary history, but the ultimate test is duodenal histopathology, which is the only currently established means of assessing healing. Symptoms, serology or other non‐invasive means are poor predictors of healing and the likelihood of complications.Conclusion Evidence (albeit limited) that adherence to a gluten‐free diet and mucosal healing prevent and/or ameliorate complications indicates that a planned long‐term strategy for follow‐up is essential.
Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug use as a risk factor for gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease: an observational study
Authors: RUSZNIEWSKI P. , SOUFFLET C. , BARTHÉLÉMY P. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryBackground  Although the associations between nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and peptic ulcer disease or dyspepsia are well established, fewer data exist concerning the relationship between NSAIDs and gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GERD).Aim  To examine the relationship between NSAIDs and GERD.Methods  A self‐administered questionnaire covering NSAID use and GERD symptoms (heartburn and acid regurgitation) was sent to a representative national sample of 10 000 French adults (≥18 years) between 14 October and 21 November 2005. Risk factors associated with GERD were identified by logistic regression analysis in respondents who were not taking aspirin or proton pump inhibitors.Findings  A total of 7259 completed questionnaires were returned of which 6823 were evaluable. Overall, 2262 respondents (33%) reported using NSAIDs during the previous 3 months. The lifetime and 3‐month prevalence rates of GERD symptoms were 37% and 21% respectively. GERD symptoms were significantly more common among NSAID users than among non‐users (27% vs. 19%, P ≤ 0.001) and a similar trend was seen for aspirin use. Proton pump inhibitors were received by 31% of respondents who reported experiencing GERD symptoms within the previous 3 months compared with 6% of those without symptoms (P < 0.01); however, only 20% of NSAID‐treated respondents were receiving proton pump inhibitors. NSAID use, age and female gender were independent predictors of GERD symptoms.Conclusion  NSAID or aspirin use is a significant risk factor for GERD symptoms.
Review article: the use of potentially hepatotoxic drugs in patients with liver disease
Authors: GUPTA N. K. , LEWIS J. H. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryBackground Misconceptions surround the use of hepatotoxic drugs in chronic liver disease. While many prescription and over‐the‐counter (OTC) agents can be used safely, this often runs counter to labelled warnings/contraindications, especially for the statins and other commonly used agents.Aim To evaluate published data on the use of hepatotoxic drugs in chronic liver disease including pharmacokinetic changes in cirrhosis and drug interactions, where available, to formulate recommendations on their use.Methods Using a combination of PubMed searches, review texts, the Physicians’ Desk Reference and expert opinion, drugs considered at higher risk of hepatotoxicity in chronic liver disease were evaluated.Results Most drugs and OTC products including herbals have not been formally studied in chronic liver disease, but available data suggest that several of the most commonly used agents, especially the statins, can be used safely. While there is an increased risk of drug‐induced liver injury for drugs used in the treatment of tuberculosis and HIV patients with hepatitis B or C, recommendations for their safe use are emerging.Conclusions Although many clinicians remain hesitant to use hepatotoxic drugs in chronic liver disease, the database supporting this view is limited to just a few agents. Most medications can be used safely in patients with chronic liver disease with appropriate monitoring.
Hepatitis vaccination in patients with hepatitis C: practice and validation of codes at a large veterans administration medical centre
Authors: HACHEM C. Y. , KRAMER J. R. , KANWAL F. , EL‐SERAG H. B. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryBackground  Hepatitis vaccination is recommended in patients with chronic liver disease.Aim  To validate Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and drug codes for hepatitis vaccination in administrative databases and determine vaccination rates in hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐infected patients in a single large Veterans Administration Medical Center.Methods  We calculated predictive values for hepatitis vaccination codes in a validation set of 168 patients. We then conducted a retrospective cohort study of 243 HCV‐infected patients to determine rates of hepatitis vaccination and serological testing.Results  The presence of CPT or drug codes for hepatitis A vaccine yielded a positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of 93.2% and 94.0%. The presence of hepatitis B vaccine codes yielded a PPV of 98.0% and an NPV of 94.0%. Among patients diagnosed with HCV between 2000 and 2005, receipt of hepatitis vaccination was documented in approximately 8% overall and 7% in patients with cirrhosis. Half of the patients without hepatitis vaccinations were either not tested for immunity or had negative serology.Conclusions  Current Procedural Terminology or drug codes for hepatitis vaccinations in administrative data are highly predictive of the presence of vaccinations in medical records. Our data suggest that there is significant under‐utilization of vaccination in patients with HCV.
Immunogenicity negatively influences the outcome of adalimumab treatment in Crohn’s disease
Authors: WEST R. L. , ZELINKOVA Z. , WOLBINK G. J. , KUIPERS E. J. , STOKKERS P. C. F. , VAN DER WOUDE C. J. 
Published: October 2008

SummaryBackground  Adalimumab is an effective treatment in patients with Crohn’s disease; as it is a humanized anti‐tumour necrosis factor monoclonal antibody, immunogenicity is thought not to be of any significance.Aim  To assess whether antibodies to adalimumab (ATAs) affect adalimumab treatment outcome in patients with Crohn’s disease previously treated with infliximab.Methods  A retrospective study was performed. Patients with active Crohn’s disease and who had lost response or were intolerant to infliximab were treated with adalimumab. Clinical response and side effects were assessed as were serum ATAs and antibodies to infliximab (ATIs).Results  In total 30 patients [M/F (7/23)], median age 36 years (range 21–73) were treated with adalimumab for 318 days (median range 83–632). Clinical response was 77% (23/30), a dose escalation was necessary in eight (27%) patients and side effects were observed in 47% (14/30). In five patients (17%) ATAs were detected; of these patients, four were nonresponders. The presence of ATAs was related to nonresponse to adalimumab (P = 0.006). ATIs were positive in 57% of patients (17/30) and serum levels were significantly increased in adalimumab nonresponders (P = 0.01).Conclusion  Immunogenicity plays a role in adalimumab treatment because of the development of ATAs.
The effect of sand depth, feeding regime, density, and body mass on the foraging behaviour of a pit‐building antlion
Authors: SCHARF INON , GOLAN BOAZ , OVADIA OFER 
Published: October 2008

Abstract 1. Pit‐building antlions are small sit‐and‐wait arthropod predators, which dig conical pits in sandy soils. We studied how biotic (conspecific density and feeding regime) and abiotic (sand depth) factors affect pit diameter and depth, while taking into account the larval body mass.2. Pit diameter increased with larval body mass at a decelerating rate. In addition, larger larvae tended to relocate less frequently than smaller ones.3. Sand depth positively affected overall pit size, while increasing conspecific density had a weaker but negative effect on pit size.4. Feeding the antlions resulted in an increase in pit diameter compared with an unfed control group. However, as prey size increased this positive effect diminished. This result suggests that the existence of prey provides information about the quality of the microhabitat, triggering pit extension. However, similarly to the reduction in the foraging effort of saturated predators, antlions provided with large prey invested only little effort in pit enlargement.5. Antlions were previously shown to be sensitive to prey and conspecific vibrations in the sand. We thus expected the feeding regime of the neighbour to affect antlion behaviour – surrogate of discriminating between local and global shortage of prey. Nevertheless, antlions with fed neighbours (a local prey shortage) did not show different behaviour compared with a control group in which both antlions were unfed (a global prey shortage).
No effect of larval experience on adult host preferences in Polygonia c‐album (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae): on the persistence of Hopkins’ host selection principle
Authors: JANZ NIKLAS , SÖDERLIND LINA , NYLIN SÖREN 
Published: October 2008

Abstract 1. The possible effect of juvenile imprinting or ‘chemical legacy’ on the subsequent oviposition – often called the ‘Hopkins’ host selection principle’– has been a controversial but recurrent theme in the literature on host‐plant preference. While it appears possible in principle, experimental support for the hypothesis is equivocal. The present study points out that it is also important to consider its theoretical implications, and asks under what circumstances, if any, it should be favoured by natural selection.2. Following this reasoning, it is predicted that host preference in the polyphagous butterfly Polygonia c‐album L. (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) should not be influenced by larval environment. This was tested by rearing larvae on three natural host plants: the high‐ranked Urtica dioica and the medium‐ranked Salix cinerea and Ribes uva‐crispa, and exposing the naive females to oviposition choices involving the same set of plants.3. It was found that larval host plant had no effect on oviposition decisions of the adult female. Hence, the Hopkins’ host selection principle does not seem to be applicable in this species.4. Based on recent insights on how accuracy of environmental versus genetic information should affect the control of developmental switches, the conditions that could favour the use of juvenile cues in oviposition decisions are discussed. Although the Hopkins’ host selection hypothesis cannot be completely ruled out, we argue that the circumstances required for it to be adaptive are so specific that it should not be invoked as a general hypothesis for host selection in plant‐feeding insects.
Adaptive radiation through phenological shift: the importance of the temporal niche in species diversification
Authors: SACHET JEAN‐MARIE , PONCET BÉNÉDICTE , ROQUES ALAIN , DESPRÉS LAURENCE 
Published: October 2008

Abstract1. Phenological shift in oviposition in seed predators may be a key factor for adaptive radiation if temporal differences lead to less intense competition.2. This hypothesis was tested at two sites in the French Alps in three sympatric species of larch cone flies grouped into two phenological groups (early and late) differing in adult emergence and oviposition timing by approximately 2 weeks. The present study assessed the intensity of competition within and between groups by measuring four larval traits. Cone traits were measured, and the impact of early species parasitism on cone development was assessed.3. The occupation of the central axis of a developing cone by one early larva has a strong detrimental effect on cone growth and seed production. However, there was almost no correlation between the variables measured on the cones and on the larvae, suggesting that the resources available were not limiting.4. Inter‐group competition had no significant effect on early larvae. In contrast, both inter‐ and intra‐group competition had a significant negative effect on late larvae length (–11% and –16% respectively), dry mass (–8% and –23%), and lipid mass (–15% and –26%). The intensity of competition was stronger among larvae in the same phenological group, which is consistent with the hypothesis that shifts in oviposition promote adaptive radiation in larch cone flies by reducing competition among larvae.
Movement, colonization, and establishment success of a planthopper of prairie potholes,Delphacodes scolochloa(Hemiptera: Delphacidae)
Authors: CRONIN JAMES T. 
Published: October 2008

Abstract1. Movement, and particularly the colonisation of new habitat patches, remains one of the least known aspects of the life history and ecology of the vast majority of species. Here, a series of experiments was conducted to rectify this problem withDelphacodes scolochloaCronin & Wilson, a wing‐dimorphic planthopper of the North American Great Plains.2. The movement of brachypterous and macropterous planthoppers within and among host‐plant patches was quantified. Also, an experiment was conducted to assess whether planthopper propagule size (i.e. number of colonists) influenced the presence of planthopper adults or eggs over time, planthopper population growth rate (R0), and abundance or impact of an egg parasitoid.3. Delphacodes scolochloamovement was well described by a simple diffusion model. As expected, brachypters were less dispersive than macropters – mean displacement distances among patches were three times greater for macropters (2.8 m vs. 8.1 m per day).4. Number of colonists of vacant patches increased with increasing patch size (both wing forms) and decreased with increasing isolation (brachypters only). At the scale of individual potholes (<38 m), brachypters were dispersal limited.5. Establishment success was strongly influenced by propagule size. An Allee effect constrained the establishment of new populations, but low establishment success was not a result of mate limitations or the presence of natural enemies (i.e. egg parasitoids).6. These movement data reveal important insights regarding the spatial population structure and spread ofD. scolochloa.
Stress magnitude matters: different intensities of pulsed water stress produce non‐monotonic resistance responses of host plants to insect herbivores
Authors: MODY KARSTEN , EICHENBERGER DANIELA , DORN SILVIA 
Published: October 2008

Abstract 1. Water stress may increase or reduce the suitability of plants for herbivores. The recently proposed ‘pulsed stress hypothesis’ suggests consideration of stress phenology (pulsed vs. continuous stress) to explain these conflicting effects of plant water stress on herbivore performance.2. This hypothesis was tested for the effect of differing stress intensity on performance and preference of insect herbivores belonging to different feeding guilds, namely leaf‐chewing insects (Spodoptera littoralis caterpillars) and phloem‐feeding insects (Aphis pomi aphids), on apple plants (Malus domestica). The plants were non‐stressed or exposed to a low or high intensity of pulsed water stress.3. Plant responses to the different stress levels were generally monotonic. Growth, stomatal conductance (gs), leaf water, and old‐leaf nitrogen concentration decreased, whereas young‐leaf nitrogen concentration and leaf mass per area (LMA) increased with increasing stress intensity. The stable isotope composition of foliar carbon (δ13C) responded non‐monotonically to the drought treatments. The δ13C values were highest in low‐stress plants, intermediate in high‐stress plants, and lowest in non‐stressed plants.4. The preference and performance responses of the caterpillars were also non‐monotonic. Non‐stressed plants were intermediately, low‐stress plants least, and high‐stress plants most attractive or suitable. Aphid population growth was highest on non‐stressed plants and lowest on low‐stress plants.5. The results highlight the importance of water stress intensity for the outcome of interactions between herbivores and drought‐affected plants. They show that pulsed water stress may enhance or reduce insect herbivore performance and plant resistance, depending on stress intensity.