bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Successful treatment for recurrence of primary cutaneous anaplastic large‐cell lymphoma in elderly patient with etoposide, mitoxantrone, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone and bleomycin (VNCOP‐B) therapy
Authors: ISOGAI Rieko , FUKAO Makiko , KAWADA Akira 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTPrimary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (C‐ALCL) is a malignant lymphoma with a relatively good prognosis, consisting of CD30‐positive, undifferentiated, large cells. We report an elderly patient with C‐ALCL which recurred after cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP) therapy, but was effectively treated with the third‐generation etoposide, mitoxantrone, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisolone and bleomycin (VNCOP‐B) regimen. It is characterized by the completion of treatment in 8 weeks, its applicability on an outpatient basis, and a low incidence of cardiotoxicity and mucosal symptoms. Although our patient had no side‐effects during chemotherapy, patients should be carefully monitored for side‐effects, especially infection. In conclusion, the VNCOP‐B regimen might be an effective treatment for elderly patients with good performance status, CHOP‐resistant patients or patients with aggressive non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Socio‐economic status in childhood and later alcohol use: a systematic review*
Authors: Wiles Nicola J. , Lingford‐Hughes Anne , Daniel James , Hickman Matthew , Farrell Michael , Macleod John , Haynes Jonathan C. , Skapinakis Petros , Araya Ricardo , Lewis Glyn 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTAim  To conduct a systematic review of longitudinal studies that examined the association between childhood socio‐economic status (SES) and alcohol use in later life.Methods  A systematic search to identify all longitudinal population‐based studies that examined the association between childhood SES and later alcohol use.Results  Nineteen relevant articles were identified (eight birth cohorts and 11 papers on school‐aged cohorts). There was little consistent evidence to support an association between lower childhood SES and later (mis)use of alcohol. Only a minority of studies included assessment of problem alcohol use, and in only one study was the relationship between SES and alcohol use the main research question.Conclusion  We found little robust evidence to support the assumption that childhood disadvantage is associated with later alcohol use/abuse. Given the importance of this issue in terms of policy, the lack of evidence is surprising and emphasizes the need for further research in order to inform future policies and public health messages.
Dry season ecology of riverine tiger beetles in Kruger National Park, South Africa
Authors: Mawdsley Jonathan R. , Sithole Hendrik 
Published: August 2007

AbstractThe life cycles of many African species of tiger beetles (Insecta: Coleoptera: Cicindelidae) exhibit pronounced seasonality, with adult emergence and reproductive activity closely associated with seasonal rains. Anecdotal reports have suggested that adults of certain riverine tiger beetle species may be active during the dry season near perennial water sources. To test this hypothesis, fifteen sites along three perennial rivers in Kruger National Park, South Africa, were surveyed for tiger beetles in early September, 2006. Thirteen sites yielded adult beetles, with six species represented [Chaetodera regalis (Dejean), Cylindera disjuncta (Dejean), Habrodera nilotica (Dejean), Lophyra neglecta intermediola (Horn), Lophyridia fimbriata imperatrix (Srnka), and Myriochile melancholica (Fabricius)]. Microhabitat associations of adults of all six species and ovipositional/larval substrates of five of the six species are reported, along with observations on predatory and reproductive behaviours and the possible presence of an anti‐predator chemical defence in C. regalis and L. fimbriata imperatrix.
Drawing out strengths and building capacity in social work with troubled young women
Authors: Munford Robyn , Sanders Jackie 
Published: August 2007

ABSTRACTThis paper compares the experiences of a group of marginalized young women with two groups that remained socially engaged. Drawing from a qualitative study of young women aged between 13 and 15 years, we identify four areas (understandings and experiences of well‐being, use of space, making wishes, and emotional and household labour) that illuminated the ways in which marginalized young women articulated their experiences differently from those young women who were still engaged in mainstream social life. Drawing on Ungar's work we consider the ways in which marginalized behaviours, which are typically interpreted as socially disruptive and troubled, can also be read as efforts by young women to create a consistent set of social meanings in their lives and to cement reliable relationships around them. Rather than wholly negative, we suggest that these socially disruptive and troubled behaviours should be understood as having health‐enhancing qualities, given the wider contextual challenges the young women faced, and as being the best choices they could make given their circumstances. Social work and support that assists young women on the margins needs to actively engage with these health‐enhancing qualities and to come to a sensitized understanding of the way in which these young women understand their interpersonal worlds.
CCR3‐active chemokines influence eosinophil adhesion to endothelial cells under static and flow conditions
Authors: Tachimoto H. , Ebisawa M. , Bochner B. S. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryWe recently demonstrated that CCR3‐active chemokines promote rapid detachment of eosinophils bound to vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1) in vitro. Eosinophils adhered well to immobilized human recombinant VCAM‐1 primarily via α4β1 integrin. Eotaxin‐2, a CCR3‐specific chemokine, induced eosinophil de‐adhesion from VCAM‐1. In contrast, very few eosinophils spontaneously adhered to bovine serum albumin (BSA), and eosinophil adhesion to BSA was enhanced by eotaxin‐2 over a similar nm range of concentrations. This enhancement of BSA adhesion was dependent on β2 integrins. Eosinophil α4β1 integrins can mediate rolling on VCAM‐1 under physiological flow conditions. Although we observed a reduction of eosinophil accumulation on immobilized VCAM‐1 in response to eotaxin‐2 under physiological flow conditions, this reduction of adhesion was not observed when VCAM‐1 and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) were co‐immobilized. Based on antibody‐blocking studies, this appears to be caused by a chemokine‐induced shift in integrin usage away from β1 integrin‐dominated interactions with VCAM‐1 towards β2 integrin‐dominated interactions with ICAM‐1. Our results confirm the important role of integrins and chemokines in selective eosinophil migration processes. CCR3‐active chemokines may be necessary to facilitate de‐adhesion from luminal VCAM‐1 and to facilitate the process of diapedesis by shifting integrin usage in eosinophils away from β1 integrin‐dominated interactions with VCAM‐1 towards β2 integrin‐dominated interactions with ICAM‐1. The critical importance of integrins and chemokines in eosinophilic inflammation lends support for targeting these molecules with novel therapeutic agents.
Imaging of angiogenesis in inflammation and cancer: lessons for novel treatment of allergic rhinitis
Authors: McDonald D. M. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryAngiogenesis is a feature of inflammatory and neoplastic disease. Imaging studies are revealing the distribution and accessibility of molecular targets at sites of angiogenesis and how abnormalities of angiogenic blood vessels can be exploited in diagnosis and treatment. Blood vessels at sites of angiogenesis have multiple abnormalities that provide targets for diagnostics and therapeutics. These abnormalities involve all components of the vessel wall, including endothelial cells, pericytes (mural cells), and the vascular basement membrane. Endothelial cells of angiogenic blood vessels in tumours may express abnormal proteins, sprout, proliferate, have a defective barrier function, and be dependent on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for survival. Endothelial cells of capillaries at sites of inflammation acquire a venule‐like phenotype, become leaky, and express adhesion molecules that support leucocyte influx. Inhibitors of VEGF signalling can stop angiogenesis, have a potent antivascular action, and reduce the abnormality of surviving vessels. Studies of VEGF inhibitors in mouse tumour models have shown robust and rapid changes in endothelial cells, pericytes, and the vascular basement membrane of angiogenic blood vessels. After treatment, endothelial fenestrations disappear, vascular sprouting is suppressed, and patency and blood flow cease in some vessels within 24 h. By 7 days, many tumour vessels regress. Surviving tumour vessels acquire more normal structural characteristics. Pericytes do not degenerate to the same extent as endothelial cells. The vascular basement membrane also persists after endothelial cells degenerate, providing a record of regressing vessels, sites for growth factor binding, and a scaffold for blood vessel regrowth after the cessation of therapy. The actions of angiogenesis inhibitors on blood vessels in tumours highlight the potential of exploiting the molecular and cellular abnormalities of angiogenic blood vessels in inflammatory conditions, including allergic rhinitis.
Physiological and pathological significance of nitric oxide and carbon monoxide in exhalation and their origin
Authors: Kubo N. , Yoshinaga K. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryThe sinuses and nasal turbinate are powerful nitric oxide (NO)‐generating sources. The NO level in the upper airway is 10–100‐fold higher than the concentration in surrounding air. Nasal NO production is catalysed by NO synthase (NOS), which exists in constitutive and inducible isoforms, in epithelial cells and inflammatory cells infiltrating into the nasal epithelial cell layer, particularly in patients with chronic inflammation. It is known that the nasal NO level increases in association with inflammatory disorders of the upper airway such as in patients with asthma, although the clinical picture in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) is less clear. We have shown that the NO level was markedly decreased by nasal provocation with various stimulants such as capsaicin and house dust disc. There have also been reports of increased expression of NOS in patients with AR, and the nasal NO level was significantly increased by eotaxin‐stimulated recruitment of eosinophils in patients with AR. On the other hand, the NO level was decreased in patients with AR following intranasal administration of NG‐nitro‐l‐arginine‐methyl ester, a NOS inhibitor. Carbon monoxide (CO) is mainly produced during haemoglobin catabolism by haem oxygenase (HO)‐1. The major factors causing CO generation are oxidative stress and infection, and the CO generated via HO‐1 is excreted into the breath. In addition, CO is markedly increased in smokers. In healthy non‐smokers, the oral CO level was overwhelmingly higher than the nasal CO level, suggesting that CO is predominantly generated in the lower airway. The CO level is elevated in patients with paranasal sinusitis, asthma, and COPD.
Role of prostaglandin E2 as a protective mediator for airway inflammation
Authors: Shimizu T. , Hattori R. , Shimizu S. , Kouzaki H. , Majima Y. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryProstaglandin (PG) E2 is a cyclooxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid that has anti‐inflammatory properties including suppression of lymphocyte proliferation, inhibition of cytokine/chemokine production, and dilation of human bronchi. Recently, four types of PGE2 receptors (EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4) were identified, and their roles have been extensively examined. We found mRNA expression of all four PGE2 receptors in human airway epithelial cells, and EP3 and EP4 agonists significantly inhibited mucus secretion and inflammatory cell infiltration induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or by allergic inflammation in rat nasal epithelium. These EP agonists significantly inhibited LPS‐induced secretion of IL‐8 and mucus in cultured airway epithelial cells. These results indicate that PGE2 acts as an anti‐inflammatory mediator via EP receptors of airways. EP agonists may serve as a new therapeutic modality for the treatment of airway inflammation.
Intraindividual variation in levels of serum testosterone and other reproductive and adrenal hormones in men
Authors: Brambilla Donald J. , O'Donnell Amy B. , Matsumoto Alvin M. , McKinlay John B. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryBackground  Estimates of intraindividual variation in hormone levels provide the basis for interpreting hormone measurements clinically and for developing eligibility criteria for trials of hormone replacement therapy. However, reliable systematic estimates of such variation are lacking.Objective  To estimate intraindividual variation of serum total, free and bioavailable testosterone (T), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), SHBG, LH, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), oestrone, oestradiol and cortisol, and the contributions of biological and assay variation to the total.Design  Paired blood samples were obtained 1–3 days apart at entry and again 3 months and 6 months later (maximum six samples per subject). Each sample consisted of a pool of equal aliquots of two blood draws 20 min apart.Study participants  Men aged 30–79 years were randomly selected from the respondents to the Boston Area Community Health Survey, a study of the health of the general population of Boston, MA, USA. Analysis was based on 132 men, including 121 who completed all six visits, 8 who completed the first two visits and 3 who completed the first four visits.Measurements  Day‐to‐day and 3‐month (long‐term) intraindividual standard deviations, after transforming measurements to logarithms to eliminate the contribution of hormone level to intraindividual variation.Results  Biological variation generally accounted for more of total intraindividual variation than did assay variation. Day‐to‐day biological variation accounted for more of the total than did long‐term biological variation. Short‐term variability was greater in hormones with pulsatile secretion (e.g. LH) than those that exhibit less ultradian variation. Depending on the hormone, the intraindividual standard deviations imply that a clinician can expect to see a difference exceeding 18–28% about half the time when two measurements are made on a subject. The difference will exceed 27–54% about a quarter of the time.Conclusions  Given the level of intraindividual variability in hormone levels found in this study, one sample is generally not sufficient to characterize an individual's hormone levels but collecting more than three is probably not warranted. This is true for clinical measurements and for hormone measurements used to determine eligibility for a clinical trial of hormone replacement therapy.
Disproportional geometry of the proximal femur in patients with Turner syndrome: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Nissen N. , Gravholt C. H. , Abrahamsen B. , Hauge E. M. , Jensen J.‐E. Bech , Mosekilde L. , Brixen K. 
Published: August 2007

SummaryObjective  Patients with Turner syndrome (TS) have altered growth and increased risk of osteoporosis due to oestrogen deficiency and possibly a host of other factors. Thus, TS patients have a 4·9‐fold increased risk of femoral neck fractures. Most patients are treated with oestrogen during puberty and adolescence to facilitate pubertal development and prevent secondary osteoporosis. The geometry of the hip is a predictor for hip fractures independent of bone mineral density (BMD). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the variation of the geometry of the hip in patients with TS in comparison with healthy controls.Patients  The study population comprised 58 patients with TS (aged 22–67 years) and 60 age‐matched healthy women (aged 21–65 years).Measurements  Hip axis length (HAL), neck width (NW), neck shaft angle (NSA), and femoral head‐radius (HR) on dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) screen images. These parameters related to age of oestrogen supplementation, menarche, and duration of oestrogen exposure.Results  Height was 146·6 ± 6·9 cm and 167·1 ± 6·2 cm (P < 0·1) and weight 57·4 ± 13·9 kg and 62·3 ± 8·3 kg (P < 0·001) in patients and controls, respectively. After adjustment for differences in height, HAL was not significantly different (9·4 ± 0·5 vs. 9·5 ± 0·5 cm; NS) in TS compared with controls while NW was significantly increased (3·5 ± 0·4 cm vs. 3·3 ± 0·2 cm, P < 0·001), NSA was similar (129 ± 4°vs. 130 ± 4°, NS), and HR was significantly decreased (4·1 ± 0·4 vs. 4·5 ± 0·3 cm, P < 0·001). The duration of oestrogen exposure was significantly shorter among TS, but did not correlate significantly with the geometrical parameters in either TS or controls.Conclusion  Our data demonstrates that hip geometry is disproportionate in TS compared with normal controls. The altered hip geometry, however, cannot explain the increased risk of hip fracture in TS.
Anti‐prolactin (PRL) autoantibodies suppress PRL bioactivity in patients with macroprolactinaemia
Authors: Hattori Naoki , Nakayama Yasuhisa , Kitagawa Kaori , Ishihara Takashi , Saiki Yasuhiko , Inagaki Chiyoko 
Published: August 2007

SummaryObjective  Macroprolactinaemia, mainly caused by anti‐prolactin (PRL) autoantibodies, is frequently found in patients with hyperprolactinaemia. Characteristically, these patients lack clinical symptoms of hyperprolactinaemia, but the serum bioactive PRL concentrations in vitro measured by the Nb2 bioassay are usually high. In this study, we investigated the causes of the discrepancy and the true biological features of macroprolactin.Subjects and methods  Sixteen patients with macroprolactinaemia due to anti‐PRL autoantibodies were studied. PRL bioactivity was determined by the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat)5 in T47D human breast cancer cells and the proliferation of Nb2 rat lymphoma cells.Results  PRL bioactivity by the T47D bioassay, expressed as the density of the band of phosphorylated Stat5/immunoreactive PRL, was significantly lower in sera containing anti‐PRL autoantibodies (2·4 ± 1·1) than in control sera (7·2 ± 3·1). Dissociation of PRL from the autoantibodies by acidification resulted in an increase in phosphorylated Stat5. PRL bioactivity by the Nb2 bioassay was not significantly different between sera with and without anti‐PRL autoantibodies, and free PRL in the medium gradually increased during the incubation in a time‐dependent manner in sera containing anti‐PRL autoantibodies.Conclusions  We conclude that the level of bioactivity of macroprolactin in the Nb2 bioassay is normal due to dissociation of PRL from the autoantibodies as a result of the longer incubation and more dilute assay conditions than in the T47D bioassay. The bioactivity of macroprolactin is low in vivo due to anti‐PRL autoantibodies, but monomeric PRL dissociated from the autoantibodies retains full biological activity in patients with macroprolactinaemia.
Cell block as an adjunct to conventional Papanicolaou smear for diagnosis of cervical cancer in resource‐limited settings
Authors: Gupta S. , Halder K. , Khan V. A. , Sodhani P. 
Published: August 2007

Objective:  To assess the utility of indigenously prepared cell blocks (CBs) as an adjunct to a conventional smear test in providing a reliable diagnosis of clinically suspicious cervical cancer in resource‐limited settings.Methods:  Eighty‐six clinically suspicious cervical cancer cases underwent a conventional smear test, CB preparation from residual cellular samples and biopsies at the same sitting. Correlations were performed between these modalities in order to derive the sensitivity and specificity of the CB technique to diagnose cervical cancer.Observation & Results:  Out of 86 clinically suspicious cervical cancers, 72 (83.7%), 70 (81.4%) and 67 (77.9%) cases were diagnosed as malignant on tissue biopsies, CBs and smears respectively. CB–biopsy agreement in the diagnosis of malignancy was feasible in 87.5% of the cases while CB–Pap smear agreement was feasible in 92.5% of the cases. Sensitivity and specificity of CB preparation to diagnose malignancy was 92.5% and 100%, respectively, when the smear was taken as the reference test (excluding the unsatisfactory smears). When biopsy was taken as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of CBs were 87.5% and 100% respectively (excluding the unsatisfactory biopsies). In 8/19 cases where the smear diagnoses were either unsatisfactory or atypical squamous cells/atypical glandular cells, CBs picked up malignant lesions.Conclusion:  CBs prepared from the residual cellular sample of conventional cervical scrapes augment the sensitivity of the smear test. When used as an adjunct to the smear, CBs aid in providing a reliable diagnosis of cervical cancer in the majority of the clinically suspected cases and thus the biopsy load can be reduced significantly in resource‐poor settings.
Effects of upstream lakes and nutrient limitation on periphytic biomass and nitrogen fixation in oligotrophic, subalpine streams
Authors: MARCARELLI AMY M. , WURTSBAUGH WAYNE A. 
Published: August 2007

Summary1. We conducted bioassays of nutrient limitation to understand how macronutrients and the position of streams relative to lakes control nitrogen (N2) fixation and periphytic biomass in three oligotrophic Rocky Mountain catchments. We measured periphytic chlorophyll‐a (chl‐a) and nitrogen‐fixation responses to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) additions using nutrient‐diffusing substrata at 19 stream study sites, located above and below lakes within the study catchments.2. We found that periphytic chl‐a was significantly co‐limited by N and P at 13 of the 19 sites, with sole limitation by P observed at another four sites, and no nutrient response at the final two sites. On average, the addition of N, P and N + P stimulated chl‐a 35%, 114% and 700% above control values respectively. The addition of P alone stimulated nitrogen fixation by 2500% at five of the 19 sites. The addition of N, either with or without simultaneous P addition, suppressed nitrogen fixation by 73% at nine of the 19 sites.3. Lake outlet streams were warmer and had higher dissolved organic carbon concentrations than inlet streams and those further upstream, but position relative to lakes did not affect chl‐a and nitrogen fixation in the absence of nutrient additions. Chl‐a response to nutrient additions did not change along the length of the study streams, but nitrogen fixation was suppressed more strongly by N, and stimulated more strongly by P, at lower altitude sites. The responses of chl‐a and nitrogen fixation to nutrients were not affected by location relative to lakes. Some variation in responses to nutrients could be explained by nitrate and/or total N concentration.4. Periphytic chl‐a and nitrogen fixation were affected by nutrient supply, but responses to nutrients were independent of stream position in the landscape relative to lakes. Understanding interactions between nutrient supply, nitrogen fixation and chl‐a may help predict periphytic responses to future perturbations of oligotrophic streams, such as the deposition of atmospheric N.