bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determinants of disease expression in Australian haemochromatosis patients
Authors: CRAWFORD DARRELL HG 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTMany of the clinical manifestations of haemochromatosis are determined by the hepatic iron concentration which, in turn, may be influenced by environmental and genetic factors. The environmental factors that influence iron stores include age, gender and blood loss (pathological and physiological). There is evidence that genetic factors also influence hepatic iron accumulation, as patients with two copies of the ancestral haplotype accumulate more iron than subjects with one or no copies of the ancestral haplotype. Concordance of iron storage between siblings also suggests genetic factors play an important role in determining disease expression. However, clarification of the exact role of genetic factors awaits the conduct of further studies following the cloning of the haemochromatosis gene.
ATP modulates sulfobromophthalein uptake in rat liver plasma membrane vesicles
Authors: TORRES ADRIANA MÓNICA 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTThe hepatic uptake of the bilirubin‐bilirubin‐sulfobromophthalein (BSP) group of organic anions is a carrier‐mediated process and is accounted for by at least four distinct plasma membrane proteins (bilitranslocase, BSP/bilirubin‐binding protein, organic anion‐binding protein and the organic anion transport protein). In order to investigate the regulation of basolateral organic anion uptake, BSP transport was measured in rat basolateral liver plasma membrane vesicles in the presence of ATP. ATP significantly stimulated the electroneutral uptake of BSP with an increment in Vmax compared with control (1.57±0.14 vs 0.73±0.06 nmol BSP/mg protein per 15 s, respectively; P< 0.001) while the apparent Km was not changed significantly (12±1 vs 12±2 μmol/L). The stimulatory effect was dose‐dependent for ATP (Km 1.01±0.37 mmol/L). ATP had no detectable effect on the electrogenic component of BSP transport. Other nucleotides (ADP, AMP, GTP) and non‐hydrolysable ATP did not enhance BSP uptake, suggesting that ATP hydrolysis was necessary for the effect. This was supported by the lack of effect on BSP uptake when ATP was added in the presence of vanadate. The addition of phorbol‐12‐myristate 13‐acetate, an activator of protein kinase C (PKC), increased BSP uptake in a dose‐dependent manner in the presence, but not in the absence, of ATP. Incubation of vesicles with staurosporine, an inhibitor of PKC activity, resulted in a dose‐dependent inhibition of ATP‐sensitive BSP transport. These data indicate that electroneutral BSP hepatic uptake is modulated by ATP. The effect is related to ATP hydrolysis and involves the activity of PKC.
Clinicopathological significance of intestinal and diffuse types of gastric carcinoma in Taiwan Chinese
Authors: WU CHEW‐WUN , TSAY SHYH‐HAW , HSIEH MAO‐CHIH , LO SU‐SHUN , LUI WING‐YIU , P'ENG FANG‐KU 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTThe present study sought to evaluate the clinicopathological features of our gastric cancer patients in terms of a modified Lauren's histological classification and compared the results with those from studies from Japan and Western countries. A total of 536 consecutive patients with gastric cancer were treated surgically between December 1987 and December 1993. A clinicopathological analysis was only performed for intestinal types (IT) and diffuse types (DT) of gastric cancer because patients falling into the ‘other’ category were too small to produce meaningful data. Of 536 cases of gastric cancer, 268 (50%) were IT, 231 (43.1%) were DT and 37 (6.9%) were of the other type. The overall IT:DT ratio was 1.2. Gastric cancer patients with IT (in contrast to DT) were characterized by older age, male dominance, smaller tumours, the tumour often being located in the lower and upper third of the stomach and less peritoneal metastasis. In both sexes, the peak incidence of gastric cancer patients was in the age group 65–74 years. Men had higher proportions of IT carcinoma than women. The IT:DT ratio for men and women was 1.4 and 0.4, respectively. Although the increased ratio of IT:DT paralleled the advance of age in both sexes, the transitional age (the age at which the IT:DT ratio exceeds 1.0) in male patients (age group 51–64 years) was earlier than for female patients (age group 65–74 years). Patients with IT gastric cancer had a significantly better survival rate than those with DT. However, the type of carcinoma (IT or DT) was not an independent predictor of survival. These data indicate that gastric cancer in Taiwan Chinese has different biological behaviour in terms of IT and DT. The clinicopathological features in IT and DT carcinoma are similar to studies from Japan and from Western countries.
Helicobacter pylori infection delays the healing of acetic acid‐induced gastric ulcer in Japanese monkeys
Authors: KODAMA REIJI , FUJIOKA TOSHIO , SHUTO RYUSUKE , KUBOTA TOSHIHIRO , NASU MASARU 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTTo clarify the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and the healing of gastric ulcers, we investigated the healing of acetic acid‐induced gastric ulcers in the antral mucosa of Japanese monkeys (n=5) infected with H. pylori and in control monkeys without H. pylori infection (n=6). Using H. pylori‐infected Japanese monkeys as an experimental model, gastric ulcers were induced endoscopically with acetic acid. Healing of ulcers and factors that influenced healing were studied. Continuous colonization with H. pylori was confirmed in the infected group throughout the observation period; no H. pylori were isolated from the gastric mucosa of the control group. White scarring was not observed in any infected monkeys 4 weeks after ulcer formation, but was observed in one (20%) of five monkeys at 6 weeks and in all five monkeys eight weeks after ulcer formation. In the control group, white scarring was observed in one (16.7%) of six monkeys at 4 weeks and in six monkeys at 6 (P< 0.01 vs infected group) and 8 weeks. The ammonia concentration of the gastric secretions and the grade of inflammation were significantly increased in the H. pylori‐infected group compared with the control group (P< 0.01 and P< 0.001, respectively). The volume of intracellular PAS‐positive substance was decreased (P< 0.025–0.01) at the ulcer margin in the infected group compared with the ulcer margin in the control group. The proliferation of gastric epithelial cells was markedly accelerated at the ulcer margin in the infected group compared with the ulcer margin in control group (P< 0.025–0.01). Our results strongly suggest that H. pylori infection delays the healing of gastric ulcers.
Reversal of altered intestinal mucosal immunity in rats fed elemental diet by supplementation of oleic acid
Authors: SERIZAWA HIROSHI , MIURA SOICHIRO , IMAEDA HIROYUKI , TANAKA SHIN , KIMURA HIROYUKI , TSUZUKI YOSHIKAZU , JING‐YANG HAN , TODA KYOKO , HAMADA YOSHIKI , TSUCHIYA MASAHARU , ISHII HIROMASA 
Published: March 2008

AbstractWe have previously demonstrated that elemental diet (ED) induces decreased lymphocyte transport in intestinal lymph and significant changes in T cell subsets and the number of IgA‐containing cells in gut‐associated lymphoid tissues of rats. In order to examine whether the low fat content contributes to the induction of immunological changes in gut‐associated lymphoid tissues, the effects of additional fatty acid in the ED were investigated. Rats were divided into four groups: elemental diet alone, elemental diet supplemented with 5% oleic acid (OA), elemental diet with 10% OA and conventional diet as a control. These diets were given at the same daily calorie intake for 4 weeks. The flow rate of intestinal lymph showed no significant difference between the four groups. However, lymphocyte flux as well as the percentage of CD3+ and CD4+ cells were significantly greater in the control and the 10% OA groups than in the ED and 5% OA groups. Intestinal lymph showed decreased concentrations of IgG and IgA in the ED group, whereas the addition of 10% OA significantly attenuated the decrease in these levels. In mesenteric lymph nodes, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was significantly decreased in the ED group, but 10% OA reversed this change. Immunohistochemical analysis of the ileal mucosa showed that in the ED group the population of CD4+ cells was decreased, while the number of CD8+ cells was increased. Supplementation of OA to ED produced similar stepwise attenuation of the changes in lymphocyte subpopulations in the lamina propria, while the 10% OA group reached levels that were not statistically different from controls. In the elemental diet, group, there was a significant decrease in immunoglobulin‐containing cells of the IgA class in the lamina propria of the intestine. Similarly, the addition of OA induced dose‐dependent recovery in the number of IgA‐containing cells. These results suggest that a low dietary concentration of fat may be closely related to changes in lymphocyte transport in intestinal lymph and mucosal immunity of intestinal mucosa induced by the feeding of a long‐term ED.
Differential diagnosis of gall‐bladder masses using colour Doppler ultrasonography
Authors: HIROOKA YOSHIKI , NAITOH YASUO , GOTO HIDEMI , FURUKAWA TSUYOSHI , ITO AKIHIRO , HAYAKAWA TETSUO 
Published: March 2008

AbstractTo evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of colour Doppler ultrasonography in the differential diagnosis of gall‐bladder lesions, we studied colour Doppler flow imaging of gall‐bladder masses in 75 patients with gall‐bladder masses, including 26 patients with cancer, 18 with benign polyps, 10 with adenomyomatosis and 21 with pseudo‐tumorous sludge and 28 healthy subjects as controls. The presence of a colour signal, pattern of the colour signal, blood flow velocity and resistive index (RI) within lesions were assessed using colour Doppler ultrasonography. In cancerous lesions, the colour signal pattern was diffuse or arborizing (sensitivity 90.5% (19/21); specificity 62.5% (10/16)) and the velocity and RI were (mean ± s.d.) 39.0 ± 12.4 cm/s and 0.62 ± 0.12, respectively, which was significantly different (P< 0.01) compared with controls (11.4 ± 2.5 and 0.75 ± 0.03, respectively). The colour signal pattern obtained from polyps was linear at their base in 62.5% (10/16) of cases, but the velocity (13.6 ± 5.5) and RI (0.74 ± 0.08) did not differ from those of the controls. Lesions other than cancer and polyp had no colour signal. There were overlaps in the values of velocity and RI between malignant and benign lesions. When 20 cm/s for velocity and 0.65 for RI were used as the respective cut‐off values, the sensitivity and specificity of this method in the diagnosis of malignant lesions was 95.2% (20/21) and 87.5% (14/16) for velocity and 66.7% (14/21) and 87.5% (14/16) for RI, respectively. In a prospective study consisting of 10 patients with cancer and 21 patients with polyps, the sensitivity and specificity were 90 and 66.7% for the colour signal, 100 and 100% for velocity and 80 and 90.4% for RI, respectively. In conclusion, colour Doppler ultrasonography can be useful in the diagnosis of gallbladder masses in combination with conventional ultrasonographic findings of gall‐bladder masses, especially in the differentiation of cancers from benign lesions.
Case Report: Giant choledochal cyst
Authors: HOLLAND ANDREW JA , CHILDS PHILIP A. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractWe report an adult female with a rare giant choledochal cyst. The patient presented following a normal pregnancy with the classical triad of an abdominal mass associated with jaundice and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. The cyst was excised using an intramural technique and biliary reconstruction achieved with a Roux‐en‐Y hepaticojejunostomy. Our patient has remained well with no evidence of malignancy over a 12 year review period. The aetiology and current management of this condition are discussed.
A commentary on: Career paths for basic scientists in medical research
Authors: RAMM GRANT A. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractFor basic scientists, the choice of starting a career in medical research is one made through a genuine interest in understanding the human disease processes and a desire to be at the forefront of new knowledge acquisition. However, more often than not, this decision is made without a great understanding of the career path one must follow to be successful in medical research or of the potential hurdles that may lay in wait in attaining one's career goals. The present paper outlines the optimum career path a basic scientist may follow through the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia career awards and fellowship schemes. The document also highlights a number of potential problems in the career progression of basic scientists to Research Fellow, which appear to be due, in part, to the lack of appropriate fimding to support these schemes.
Myths and realities in clinical research
Authors: WARD M. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIt is often argued that clinicians should be more actively involved in research and that this inactivity is due to shortage of time and funds. This may be so, but more important and less obvious constraints are the differences in the philosophical foundations of clincial practice and research. Researchers must strive to abolish uncertainty, to be unwaveringly committed to truth and to rid themselves of all bias. Clincians, in contrast, must frequently manage patients in the absence of certainty, handle truth creatively and be willing to be biased on their patients’ behalf as part of a professional obligation. These differences constitute powerful selection pressures for individuals with particular skills, personalities and sources of job satisfaction. Clinical practice and research are instrinsically different activities and it is probably unreasonable to expect an individual talented in one to be similarly expert in the other.
Reduction of intestinal apo A‐IV mRNA levels in the cirrhotic rat
Authors: SEISHIMA MITSURU , USUI TOSHIO , NAGANAWA SATOSHI , NISHIMURA MASATO , MORIWAKI HISATAKA , MUTO YASUTOSHI , NOMA AKIO 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTIn the present study, intestinal apo A‐IV synthesis was investigated using a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‐induced cirrhosis rat model. Triglyceride (TG) content in rat cirrhotic liver was increased markedly by 170% (P< 0.001) and apo B was increased by 20% (P<0.05) compared with control levels. These results reflected the steatotic change in the liver. In contrast, TG levels in the small intestine of cirrhotic rats decreased significantly (P<0.01). In addition, intestinal apo A‐IV (jejunum P< 0.001; ileum P< 0.01) and its mRNA levels (jejunum P< 0.01; ileum P< 0.05) were also reduced. The decreased apo A‐IV content in the jejunum was confirmed by immunohistochemical analysis. These results indicate that intestinal apo A‐IV synthesis in cirrhosis is suppressed, at least under the condition of an overnight fast. Therefore, decreased intestinal apo A‐IV synthesis may relate to the decreased ability to absorb fat in cirrhosis, but a fat‐loading study will be necessary to confirm this hypothesis. It is unknown from the present study why serum apo A‐IV level is not significantly decreased, despite a reduction in apo A‐IV synthesis. The clearance of apo A‐IV by the liver may be delayed or apo A‐IV synthesis may be rather markedly enhanced during fat absorption in liver cirrhosis.
Case report: Lymphangioma of the oesophagus endoscopically resected
Authors: SUWA TATSUSHI , OZAWA SOJI , ANDO NOBUTOSHI , SHINOZAKI HIROHARU , TSUJITSUKA KAZUYUKI , MIKI HIROTAKA , MAKUUCHI HIROYASU , KITAJIMA MASAKI 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTLymphangioma of the oesophagus is an extremely rare entity, with only nine cases having been reported worldwide. We report on a 52‐year‐old woman with oesophageal lymphangioma, diagnosed using endoscopic ultrasonography and endoscopically resected. No case of malignant transformation of the lymphangioma has been reported in the literature. Endoscopic resection seems to be a minimally invasive method that is appropriate both for the removal of the tumour and precise diagnosis.
Relationship between age and clinical characteristics of patients with gastric cancer
Authors: LO SU‐SHUN , WU CHEW‐WUN , HSIEH MAO‐CHIH , KUO HSU‐SUNG , LUI WING‐YIU , P'ENG FANG‐KU 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe relationship between the prognosis and age of patients with gastric cancer is controversial. To evaluate whether there is a biological characteristic specific to the age of patients, we examined the clinical characteristics of patients with gastric cancer with special reference to their age. Based on a prospective database, a retrospective study of 419 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy for cure in the past 6 years was conducted. Clinical characteristics including gender, gross appearance of the tumour (Borrmann's classification, tumour location), histopathology (depth of tumour invasion, lymph node status, Lauren's classification and degree of tumour cell differentiation) and TNM tumour stage were analysed in six different age groups (< 39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, > 80 years). The mean age of the 419 patients was 64.6 years (range from 26–91) and the peak age incidence of gastric cancer (46.3%) was in the 60–69 year old age group. The male: female ratio was 4.6: 1 on the whole and male gender predominated at ages > 60. The proportion of diffuse type tumours (68.4%) by Lauren's criteria in the young age group (< 39 yrs) decreased with age (25% in the > 80 years group; P<0.001). Similarly, the proportion of poorly‐differentiated tumours (89.5%) in the young age group (< 39 yrs) decreased with advancing age (P<0.001). These findings suggest that both diffuse type and poorly‐differentiated tumours predominate in younger patients and, without considering the factor of delay in diagnosis, may explain the poorer prognosis demonstrated in younger patients.
Hepatocyte volume as an indicator of hepatic functional reserve in cirrhotic patients with liver tumours
Authors: MATSUI Y. , TU W. , KITADE H. , NAKAGAWA A. , KAMIYA T. , KWON A‐H , UETSUJI S. , KAMIYAMA Y. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractUsing computed tomography (CT), measurements of whole liver volume have been used for the assessment of pre‐operative functional reserve in cirrhotics. However, measurements of hepatocyte volume, which exclude stromal fibrous tissue, are considered to more directly reflect hepatic functional reserve. We investigated the relationship between total hepatocyte volume and each of the parameters of conventional liver function. Indocyanine green (ICG) tests and blood analyses for the assessment of liver function were performed prior to surgery in cirrhotic patients with liver tumours. Pre‐operative liver volume was determined by integrating images of each liver area obtained by CT. Liver area was measured by an image processing program that traced the profile of the liver image while excluding the tumorous area. Sections of normal tissue stained by the haematoxylin‐eosin method, were obtained from the resected liver. Using these sections, a hepatocyte area: whole tissue area ratio was calculated using the image processing program, by tracing the profiles of the hepatocyte nodules. The total volume of hepatocytes was then calculated by multiplying the liver volume by this ratio. The hepatocyte volume per unit bodyweight was significantly correlated with ICG tests and with many other parameters of normal liver function. However, the liver volume per unit bodyweight was correlated only with the plasma ICG disappearance rate and with the blood platelet count. These observations suggest that the functional reserve of the cirrhotic liver is assessed more precisely by hepatocyte volume than by liver volume.
The comparative potency of cholesterol crystallization‐effector proteins in supersaturated model bile systems: Association with vesicle transformation
Authors: HATTORI YOSHIHIRO , TAZUMA SUSUMU , YAMASHITA GUNJI , KAJIYAMA GORO 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTVarious proteins which affect cholesterol crystallization are known to be present in bile, although the relative potency of their action is yet to be established. In this study, we evaluated the comparative potency of nucleating‐effector proteins using a recently developed method for quantitative assessment of vesicle transformation in supersaturated model bile systems, to partially characterize mechanisms of their action. Concanavalin A‐bound glycoproteins isolated from human gall‐bladder bile shortened cholesterol crystallization time by 40% and increased cholesterol growth rate and final crystal mass by 161 and 19%, respectively, when compared to the control. In addition, immunoglobulins isolated from human gall‐bladder bile increased cholesterol growth rate by 9%, but showed no significant effect on cholesterol crystallization time and final crystal mass. In contrast, human serum apolipoproteins A‐I and B reduced cholesterol growth rate by 26 and 31% and reduced final crystal mass by 12 and 21%, but did not affect cholesterol crystallization time. Gel permeation chromatography revealed that proteins were distributed to both vesicles and bile salt micelles, but that no marked redistribution of lipids was caused by addition of these proteins. Furthermore, no significant difference in crystal structure was observed by video‐enhanced contrast microscopy. These results indicate that nucleatingeffector substances tested in this study may modulate vesicular cholesterol‐holding capacity, thus affecting cholesterol crystallization. Such modulation is based upon the protein‐vesicle association which defines the physico‐chemical metastability of vesicular cholesterol.
THE RESULTS OF TREATMENT AND SOME OF THE DIAGNOSTIC DIFFICULTIES IN A SERIES OF 142 INTRACRANIAL TUMOURS IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN*
Authors: SCHREIBER M. SOFER 
Published: March 2008

EDITORIAL SYNOPSISThis report analyses a series of 142 infants and children with intracranial tumours classified according to type and site of origin. Brief case reports illustrate some of the diagnostic difficulties and the outcome in each group provides a guide to prognosis. The experience gained is summarized in helpful observations and recommendations.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BIRTH WEIGHT AND GESTATIONAL AGE IN AN AUSTRALIAN HOSPITAL POPULATION
Authors: KITCHEN W. H. 
Published: March 2008

SYNOPSISThe neonate whose birth‐weight diverges widely from the average for the period of gestation is subject to special hazards. Acceptable local standards of weight are required to identify these infants at risk. A chart of intrauterine weight, based on data from 2637 patients, is presented together with details of the hospital population and the methods used in selecting the patients. The influence of certain complications during pregnancy is briefly discussed.
A DIFFICULTY IN CONFIRMING 21 HYDROXYLASE DEFICIENCY IN A NEONATE WITH CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA
Authors: RUDD B. T. , GALAL O. M. , McARTHUR R. G. 
Published: March 2008

SYNOPSISThe pattern of steroid excretion of a female infant with congenital adrenal hyperplasia was examined on the fifth day of life.The absence of pregnanetriol and the pattern of steroid excretion indicated a 3β‐ol‐de‐hydrogenase deficiency; DHA and other androgens were excreted as sulphate (solvolysable) conjugates. On the other hand, the presence of 11‐oxygenated steroids in the urine did not support this diagnosis. The detection of significant quantities of reducing steroids excreted as sulphate conjugates, suggested that either the corticosterone or cortisol pathway was partially open.An ACTH stimulation test at 3 1/2 months of age while the patient was receiving dexamethasone, revealed significant quantities of pregnanetriol in the urine, and a decrease of those steroids excreted in the neonatal period. It is suggested that the ACTH test is a valuable aid in the post neonatal period in the diagnosis of difficult cases of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.