bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RAGING WITH THE TRUTH: Condemnation and Concealment in the Poetry of Blake and Hill
Authors: Merriman Emily Taylor 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACTAn analysis of Geoffrey Hill's lyric poem about William Blake illuminates the relations between art, prophecy, and imperial politics across more than two centuries. Hill's poem responds to David V. Erdman's argument that Blake was resolutely, if ineffectually and sometimes secretly, opposed to war. It also establishes Hill's own cryptic but definite resistance to contemporary war and warmongers, while it mourns poetry's public powerlessness to halt the violent competition for material resources. Ignored by the majority, poetry fails to bring about the ethical social change that poets often envision. The layering of perspectives (Hill the poet and scholar writing about Erdman the scholar, who is explicating Blake the poet and artist) allows for a multidimensional interpretation of the role of poets and prophetic poetry. Despite their fury at society's deafness and greed, and frustration at their own incapacities, poets—because if they are great poets, they are prophets, too—continue to speak to their audiences about the problems of this world and about the better worlds that can be imagined. Hill's text obliquely teaches how the small success of a great poem can provide a minor note of consolation as it objects to terror and tyranny.
SAVING THE “SECULAR”: The Public Vocation of Moral Theology1
Authors: Biggar Nigel 
Published: January 2009

ABSTRACTThe London suicide bombings of July 7, 2005 were partly the revolt of moral earnestness against a liberal society that, enchanted by the fantasy of rationalist anthropology, surrenders its passionate members to a degrading consumerism. The “humane” liberalism variously espoused by Jürgen Habermas, John Rawls, and Jeffrey Stout offers a dignifying alternative; but it is fragile, and each of its proponents looks for allies among certain kinds of religious believer. Stanley Hauerwas, however, counsels Christians against cooperation. On the one hand, he is right to resist, insofar as liberalism illiberally excludes theology from public discourse. On the other hand, not all humane liberalism does this: Stout's, for example, is genuinely polyglot, requiring not a common secularist language but a common ethic of communicating. Such a liberal ethic and its attendant anthropology merit the support of Christians: there may be more to be said about the Kingdom of God than respect, tolerance, and fairness, but there will not be less. The Christian has good theological reasons to expect some concord with other inhabitants of secular space. Ethical distinctiveness is no measure of theological integrity; and neither theology (paceBarth) nor biblical narrative (paceRichard Hays) should be expected to do all of the ethical running. If Christians are to be thorough in their moral theology and intelligible in their public statements, then they must borrow non‐theological material, formulate abstract concepts, and engage in casuistical analysis. Nevertheless, if an anxious insistence on distinctiveness is a mistake, concern for theological integrity is not. When the moral theologian borrows ethical material from elsewhere, he should integrate it into a theological vision structured by the Christian salvation‐historical narrative, which will sometimes modify the meaning of what is incorporated. So in affirming humane, polyglot liberalism, the moral theologian will at the same time make salutary qualifications. One of these is the assertion of the need of liberal institutions to own and promote their moral and anthropological commitments. In such a confessionally liberal society, universities in general, and the Arts and Humanities in particular, would recover their vocation to form citizens in communicative virtues and to offer them a dignifying, morally serious vision of human being that could save future generations from a degrading consumerism on the one hand and violent over‐reaction on the other.
Fatigue, depression and disability accumulation in multiple sclerosis: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Koch M. , Mostert J. , Heerings M. , Uyttenboogaart M. , De Keyser J. 
Published: January 2009

Objective:  To investigate the influence of disability and the speed of disability accumulation on fatigue and depression in a large cohort of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods:  A total of 412 patients completed the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD). The patients were registered at our outpatient department and demographic and disease specific data were compared between patients with and without severe fatigue (FSS ≥ 5.0) and clinically significant depressive symptoms (CESD ≥ 16). We investigated the association of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, multiple sclerosis severity scores (MSSS) and either CESD scores or FSS‐scores with severe fatigue and clinically significant depressive symptoms in a multivariable logistic regression model, with adjustment for possible confounders.Results:  Only CESD scores were independently associated with severe fatigue. FSS scores and female gender were independently associated with clinically significant depressive symptoms. Neither EDSS nor MSSS scores were independently associated with fatigue or depression.Conclusion:  In patients with MS, fatigue and depression are strongly associated with each other but not with the degree of disability or the speed of disability accumulation.
Effects of levetiracetam on chronic pain in multiple sclerosis: results of a pilot, randomized, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Rossi S. , Mataluni G. , Codecà C. , Fiore S. , Buttari F. , Musella A. , Castelli M. , Bernardi G. , Centonze D. 
Published: January 2009

Background and purpose:  Central neuropathic pain (CNP) is a prevalent and distressing symptom in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The anticonvulsant levetiracetam (LEV) has been shown to be efficacious in some types of CNP, but its efficacy in MS‐related CNP has not been confirmed.Methods:  To investigate the tolerability and potential effects of LEV against CNP in MS subjects, we performed a single‐center, prospective, randomized, single‐blind, placebo‐controlled study in twenty patients with MS and CNP. Outcomes before and during the 3‐month study were assessed using validated measures of pain, depression, disability and quality of life.Results:  The medication was well tolerated and analysis revealed a significant difference between the LEV and placebo arm in all study outcomes related to pain (mean pain intensity score, mean pain difference, percentage of patients with a clinically significant pain reduction). Furthermore, the individual quality of life rating improved in treated patients, showing a significant correlation with pain reduction.Conclusions:  These findings suggest that further studies with larger samples of patients be carried out in order to confirm the efficacy of LEV in MS‐related CNP population.
Does the menstrual cycle influence the motor and phosphene thresholds in migraine?
Authors: Boros K. , Poreisz C. , Paulus W. , Antal A. 
Published: January 2009

Background and purpose:  The excitability of the visual and motor cortical areas is altered in migraineurs. Controversial results of previous studies on cortical excitability may depend on the hormonal status of female subjects. The present study aimed to determine whether the different phases of the menstrual cycle influence the phosphene thresholds (PT) and resting motor thresholds (RMT) in migraineurs.Methods:  Thirty‐two migraine patients participated in this study. Three to six PT and RMT measurements were done in headache‐free intervals during the follicular, middle and luteal phases of the female cycle, or in active dosage and withdrawal phases in patients who were taking low dosage oral contraceptives.Results:  Generally, PTs showed higher individual variabilities than RMTs. Additionally, we have observed that the RMTs and PTs were significantly independent from hormonal changes. However, patients who were taking a low dosage of oral contraceptives had lower PTs compared with patients who were not taking oral contraceptives. RMTs show the opposite tendency.Conclusion:  The results imply that PTs and RMTs can be reliably measured independently from the menstrual hormone status in female migraineurs.
Predictive value of clinical characteristics in patients with suspected cauda equina syndrome
Authors: Domen P. M. , Hofman P. A. , Van Santbrink H. , Weber W. E. J. 
Published: January 2009

Background and purpose:  Overlooking a potential diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome (CES) can result in severe long‐term neurologic deficits. There is a growing trend to order urgent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the lumbar spine in any patient presenting with signs suspicious for CES. A substantial number of these MRI scans do not show cauda compression. The purpose of this study is to assess whether clinical characteristics can predict MRI‐confirmed cauda compression.Methods:  We retrospectively studied 58 consecutive cases of suspected CES who presented at our hospital’s emergency room.Results:  Eight of 58 patients had cauda compression on MRI. When measured, MRI + CES patients (6) had more than 500 ml urinary retention. Moreover, when these patients had at least two of the following characteristics: bilateral sciatica, subjective urinary retention or rectal incontinence symptoms, MRI was more probable to demonstrate cauda compression with an OR of 48.00, 95% (CI 3.30–697.21), which was also significant (P of 0.04). The presence of other symptoms or signs alone was not significantly different between both groups.Conclusion:  In our series, urinary retention of more than 500 ml alone or in combination with two or more specific clinical characteristics were the most important predictors of MRI confirmed cauda compressions.
HLA‐DRB1 and multiple sclerosis in Argentina
Authors: Patrucco L. , Larriba J. , Redal M. A. , Rojas J. I. , Argibay P. F. , Cristiano E. 
Published: January 2009

Background:  The association of multiple sclerosis (MS) with HLA DR subtypes, and particularly human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐DRB1*15 has been a consistent finding across nearly all Caucasian MS populations. In South America, scarce data exist about this issue. As the complete characterization of the HLA association range around the world is important to understand the role of this locus in MS susceptibility, we analyzed the frequency of HLA‐DRB1* allelic groups in an MS population in Argentina.Methods:  HLA‐DRB1 locus was genotyped using PCR and sequence‐specific primer amplification in 61 MS patients born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and 1216 healthy controls. Allele frequencies were compared between groups.Results:  The HLA‐DRB1*15 allele frequency significantly differed between controls and patients (13.5% and 33.9% respectively, P < 0.001, OR 2.51, 95% CI: 1.7–3.0). The other allele frequencies did not show significant differences between patients and controls.Conclusions:  The present HLA class II population study is in accordance with other Caucasian MS surveys which have found that HLA‐DRB1*15 allele is strongly associated with MS disease. In Argentina, this is the first study performed to analyze the association of HLA‐DRB1*15 and MS susceptibility in a Caucasian population and therefore contributes with new data to the immunogenomic global MS map.
Molecular mechanisms of metal hyperaccumulation in plants
Authors: Verbruggen Nathalie , Hermans Christian , Schat Henk 
Published: January 2009

SummaryMetal hyperaccumulator plants accumulate and detoxify extraordinarily high concentrations of metal ions in their shoots. Metal hyperaccumulation is a fascinating phenomenon, which has interested scientists for over a century. Hyperaccumulators constitute an exceptional biological material for understanding mechanisms regulating plant metal homeostasis as well as plant adaptation to extreme metallic environments. Our understanding of metal hyperaccumulation physiology has recently increased as a result of the development of molecular tools. This review presents key aspects of our current understanding of plant metal – in particular cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) – hyperaccumulation.

Contents

Summary
759

I.
Hyperaccumulation: the phenomenon
759

II.
Macroevolution of hyperaccumulation
760

III.
Microevolution of hyperaccumulation: variation within hyperaccumulator species
760

IV.
Genetic analysis of trace metal accumulation and tolerance
761

V.
Mechanisms of trace metal accumulation
762

VI.
General discussion and research perspectives
769

Acknowledgements
772

References
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Autoimmune Angioneurotic Edema in a Patient with Helicobacter pylori Infection
Authors: Mukeba Didier , Chandrikakumari Kavitha , Giot Jean‐Baptiste , Leonard Philippe , Meuris Christelle , Frippiat Frederic , Moutschen Michel 
Published: January 2009

AbstractAssociation of acquired autoimmune angioneurotic edema with other diseases is increasing. However, the precise mechanism by which antibodies to C1‐esterase inhibitor (C1‐INH) are produced, is not elucidated. We describe a patient with IgA antibodies against C1‐INH without other autoimmune markers. Our patient had gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection, proven by biopsy. This case suggests that H. pylori infection can act as triggering factor for acquired autoimmune angioneurotic edema.
Gender Difference of Circulating Ghrelin and Leptin Concentrations in Chronic Helicobacter pylori Infection
Authors: Chuang Chiao‐Hsiung , Sheu Bor‐Shyang , Yang Hsiao‐Bai , Lee Shui‐Cheng , Kao Ai‐Wen , Cheng Hsiu‐Chi , Chang Wei‐Lun , Yao Wei‐Jen 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackground:  Both ghrelin and leptin are important appetite hormones secreted from the stomach. We examined whether demographic background, Helicobacter pylori infection, or its related gastritis severity could be associated with circulating ghrelin and leptin levels.Methods:  This study prospectively enrolled 341 dyspeptic patients (196 females, 145 males), who had received endoscopy to provide the gastric specimens over both antrum and corpus for histology reviewed by the updated Sydney's system. The fasting blood sample of each patient was obtained for total ghrelin and leptin analysis.Results:  Without H. pylori infection, there were similar ghrelin levels between female and male patients. In the H. pylori‐infected patients, the males had lower plasma ghrelin levels than females (1053 vs. 1419 pg/mL, p < .001). Only in males, not in females, the H. pylori infection and its related acute and chronic inflammation scores were significantly associated with a lower ghrelin level (p ≤ .04). The multivariate regression disclosed that only the chronic inflammation score independently related to a lower ghrelin level. Only in males, the ghrelin levels ranked in a downward trend for the gastritis feature as with limited‐gastritis, with antrum‐predominant gastritis, and with corpus‐gastritis (1236, 1101, and 977 pg/mL). Leptin level was not related to H. pylori‐related gastritis, but positively related to body mass index.Conclusion:  There should be a gender difference to circulating total ghrelin levels, but not leptin levels, in response to H. pylori infection and its related chronic gastritis.
Dual‐Priming Oligonucleotide‐Based Multiplex PCR for the Detection of Helicobacter pylori and Determination of Clarithromycin Resistance with Gastric Biopsy Specimens
Authors: Woo Hee‐Yeon , Park Dong Il , Park Hyosoon , Kim Min‐Kyung , Kim Dong Hoon , Kim In‐Suk , Kim Young Jae 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackground:  Assessment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) clarithromycin resistance has rarely been performed routinely despite an increasing resistance rate. Our aim was to develop and evaluate the use of dual‐priming oligonucleotide (DPO)‐based multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect point mutations in the 23S rRNA gene responsible for clarithromycin resistance of H. pylori.Materials and Methods:  Gastric biopsy specimens from 212 untreated patients with dyspepsia were examined by culture, histology, and DPO‐based multiplex PCR. A disk diffusion test and E‐test were used for performing phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility tests.Results:  Among the biopsy specimens tested, 22.2% (47/212), 42.5% (90/212), and 41.5% (88/212) of the specimens were classified as H. pylori positive by culture, histology, and DPO‐based multiplex PCR, respectively. Among 96 strains identified by either culture or DPO‐based multiplex PCR, 80 strains were clarithromycin‐susceptible and 16 strains (16.7%) were clarithromycin‐resistant. There was 94.1% (32/34) concordance between phenotypic susceptibility tests and DPO‐based multiplex PCR. In two patients with discrepant results, only DPO‐based multiplex PCR detected clarithromycin‐resistant strains. DPO‐based multiplex PCR identified additional 49 clarithromycin‐resistant or clarithromycin‐susceptible H. pylori among 165 culture‐negative specimens.Conclusions:  DPO‐based multiplex PCR can be used as a practical method for the detection of H. pylori infection and the determination of clarithromycin susceptibility in addition to phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility tests.
Prevalence of Primary Fluoroquinolone Resistance Among Clinical Isolates of Helicobacter pylori at a University Hospital in Southern Taiwan
Authors: Hung Kuei‐Hsiang , Sheu Bor‐Shyang , Chang Wei‐Lun , Wu Hsiu‐Mei , Liu Chin‐Cheng , Wu Jiunn‐Jong 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackground:  Fluoroquinolone‐containing therapy is effective in eradicating Helicobacter pylori. However, the resistance rate of H. pylori to fluoroquinolones in Taiwan has not yet been reported. In this study, we aimed to investigate the susceptibility to antibiotics commonly used in eradication schedules and fluoroquinolones in H. pylori.Methods:  A total of 210 clinical isolates of H. pylori were collected from April 1998 to September 2007 from patients in southern Taiwan. The in vitro activities of six antimicrobial agents were determined by the agar dilution method and Etest. The mutations in quinolone resistance‐determining regions of gyrA and gyrB were investigated by direct sequencing.Results:  Overall, 5.7% of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. The resistance rate to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, and tetracycline was 1.0% (two of 210), 9.5% (20 of 210), 27.6% (58 of 210), and 0.5% (one of 210), respectively. The resistance rate to either ciprofloxacin or to levofloxacin increased from 2.8% (1998–2003) to 11.8% (2004–2007). The mutations in gyrA at N87 or D91 had an impact on primary fluoroquinolone resistance in H. pylori. Garenoxacin, but not moxifloxacin, had a good in vitro inhibitory effect against ciprofloxacin/levofloxacin‐resistant strains compared with objective minimal inhibitory concentration values.Conclusions:  Drug resistance to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin in H. pylori collected from 2004 to 2007 increased significantly compared with resistance level observed during 1998–2003. The continuous surveillance of quinolone resistance among H. pylori is important in this area.
Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy Success Regarding Different Treatment Period Based on Clarithromycin or Metronidazole Triple‐Therapy Regimens
Authors: Filipec Kanizaj Tajana , Katicic Miroslava , Skurla Bruno , Ticak Mirjana , Plecko Vanda , Kalenic Smilja 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackground: The study compares the eradication success of standard first‐line triple therapies of different durations (7, 10, and 14 days).Materials and Methods: A total of 592 naive Helicobacter pylori‐positive patients were randomized to receive pantoprazole, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin or metronidazole for 14 days (PACl14 or PAM14), 10 days (PACl10 or PAM10), or 7 days (PACl7 or PAM7). H. pylori eradication was assessed by histological, microbiological, and rapid urease examination.Results: The intention‐to‐treat (ITT) and per‐protocol (PP) analyses have shown no overall statistically significant differences between the eradication success of PACl and PAM treatment groups (ITT p = .308, PP p = .167). Longer treatment duration has yielded statistically significant increase in eradication success for clarithromycin (ITT p = .004; PP p = .004) and metronidazole (ITT p = .010; PP p = .034) based regimens. Namely, PACl10, PACl14, and PAM14 protocols resulted in eradication success exceeding 80% in ITT and 90% in PP analysis. Primary resistance to clarithromycin and metronidazole equals 8.2% and 32.9%, respectively. Prolonging the metronidazole‐based treatment duration in patients with resistant strains resulted in statistically significant higher eradication success.Conclusions: For all antimicrobial combinations, 14 days protocols have led to a significant increase of H. pylori eradication success when compared to 10 and 7 days, respectively. Prolonging the treatment duration can overcome the negative effect of metronidazole resistance. Only PAM14, PACl10 protocols achieved ITT success > 80% and should be recommended as the first line eradication treatment in Croatia.
The Helicobacter hepaticus hefA Gene is Involved in Resistance to Amoxicillin
Authors: Belzer Clara , Stoof Jeroen , Breijer Simone , Kusters Johannes G. , Kuipers Ernst J. , Van Vliet Arnoud H. M. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackground:  Gastrointestinal infections with pathogenic Helicobacter species are commonly treated with combination therapies, which often include amoxicillin. Although this treatment is effective for eradication of Helicobacter pylori, the few existing reports are less clear about antibiotic susceptibility of other Helicobacter species. In this study we have determined the susceptibility of gastric and enterohepatic Helicobacter species to amoxicillin, and have investigated the mechanism of amoxicillin resistance in Helicobacter hepaticus.Materials and methods:  The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antimicrobial compounds was determined by E‐test and agar/broth dilution assays. The hefA gene of H. hepaticus was inactivated by insertion of a chloramphenicol resistance gene. Transcription was measured by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction.Results:  Three gastric Helicobacter species (H. pylori, H. mustelae, and H. acinonychis) were susceptible to amoxicillin (MIC < 0.25 mg/L). In contrast, three enterohepatic Helicobacter species (H. rappini, H. bilis, and H. hepaticus) were resistant to amoxicillin (MIC of 8, 16, and 6–64 mg/L, respectively). There was no detectable β‐lactamase activity in H. hepaticus, and inhibition of β‐lactamases did not change the MIC of amoxicillin of H. hepaticus. A H. hepaticus hefA (hh0224) mutant, encoding a TolC‐component of a putative efflux system, resulted in loss of amoxicillin resistance (MIC 0.25 mg/L), and also resulted in increased sensitivity to bile acids. Finally, transcription of the hefA gene was not responsive to amoxicillin, but induced by bile acids.Conclusions:  Rodents are frequently colonized by a variety of enterohepatic Helicobacter species, and this may affect their global health status and intestinal inflammatory responses. Animal facilities should have treatment strategies for Helicobacter infections, and hence resistance of enterohepatic Helicobacter species to amoxicillin should be considered when designing eradication programs.