bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determining the rate of varicella vaccine rash in children with moderate–severe eczema
Authors: Frydenberg AR , Buttery JP , Royle J 
Published: November 2005

Objectives: To determine the rate and severity of vesicular reactions following varicella vaccine in children with moderate–severe eczema. Secondary endpoints included the rates and severity of local reactions and eczema severity change within 42 days of vaccination. Methods: Prospective open intervention pilot study of varicella vaccine in children aged 12 months to 13 years with moderate–severe eczema. Children were given varicella vaccine alone and followed for 42 days after vaccination. Results: Fifty children, aged 12 months to 10.5 years were recruited, with complete follow‐up for 48. A vesicular rash with a single lesion occurred in one child (2.1% (95% CI: 0, 11.1%)), 10 days following vaccination. Local reactions, including erythema, swelling and tenderness, were reported in eight children (16.7%). A flare‐up of moderate–severe generalized eczema was reported in one child (2.1%) during the first week following varicella vaccine. Conclusions: Vesicular rash and local reactions following varicella vaccination were no more common or severe in children with moderate–severe eczema than that reported in the published literature in children without eczema. Eczema in the 42 days following vaccination did not appear to increase in severity.
Changing face of paediatric and adolescent thyroid cancer
Authors: Hameed R , Zacharin MR 
Published: November 2005

Objectives: The aims of our study were to review the Royal Children's Hospital cohort of children having thyroidectomy for thyroid nodules over the last 8 years and to report the changing pattern of thyroid cancer seen in our institution over that time. Methods: We undertook a retrospective case‐note review of all patients who underwent thyroid surgery between 1997 and 2004. Results: Of 69 patients identified, the pathological diagnoses were 51 benign tumours, 14 thyroid cancers and four cases of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2, who were treated with prophylactic thyroidectomy. Sixteen of the 69 patients had a history of childhood cancer and 10/16 had cancer treatment which included direct or scatter radiation. Of the 10 patients who received irradiation, four had follicular adenomas and six developed thyroid cancer. All six patients were euthyroid: one patient was presented with a palpable nodule and the other five were detected on surveillance ultrasound. Conclusions: Our results confirm a high detection of malignancy in thyroid nodules in childhood. Compared to an earlier study at this institution, the number of thyroid malignancies appears to be increasing. Surveillance at the Royal Children's Hospital has changed, with increased long‐term cancer survival. Prospective 2‐yearly evaluation of those with a past history of radiation exposure has resulted in earlier detection of benign and malignant thyroid lesions. Nodular changes are usually not clinically apparent for many years and lifelong surveillance is necessary for cancer detection in this group.
Economic evaluation of neonatal screening for phenylketonuria and congenital hypothyroidism
Authors: Geelhoed EA , Lewis B , Hounsome D , O'Leary P 
Published: November 2005

Objective: To evaluate the costs and benefits of neonatal screening for phenylketonuria (PKU) and congenital hypothyroidism (CH). Neonatal screening for PKU and CH is common throughout the developed world. It represents a model of preventive care in that the screening procedure is simple and intellectual disability is otherwise irreversible. Changes in treatment and care, and in particular the advent of maternal PKU, require regular evaluation of a programme that also impacts on a large healthy population. Method: Costs of screening were based on the programme provided within Western Australia. Costs averted were derived using patterns of care currently adopted in Western Australia and applied according to historical patterns of intellectual disability for each condition. Results: A net saving of $A2.9 million is attributable to the programme annually. The economic benefits derive from the prevention of intellectual disability which otherwise incurs costs throughout the life of the affected individual. Maternal PKU represented a minor proportion of overall costs. Sensitivity analysis showed that the cost savings were robust, given changes in the levels of intellectual disability, but varied according to the discount rate. The result of a net saving was evident under all assumptions. Conclusion: Neonatal screening for PKU and CH is a cost saving use of resources and the emergence of maternal PKU has not had a significant effect on the economic outcomes.
Kidney stone disease and risk factors for coronary heart disease
Authors: HAMANO SATOSHI , NAKATSU HIROOMI , SUZUKI NORIYUKI , TOMIOKA SUSUMU , TANAKA MASASHI , MURAKAMI SHINO 
Published: November 2005

Abstract  Background:  We conducted a case‐control study to examine the impact of coronal heart disease (CHD) risk factors on calcium oxalate (CaOX) stone formation.Methods:  Variables included body mass index (BMI), current alcohol use, smoking habit, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and hyperuricemia. Data sufﬁcient for analysis were obtained for 181 CaOX stone formers and 187 controls.Results:  Seven of 181 stone formers (3.9%) had a history of CHD compared with none of 187 control subjects (P = 0.007). In univariate logistic regression analysis, smoking habit (OR 4.41, 95% CI 2.85–6.84, P < 0.0001), hypertension (OR 4.24, 95% CI 2.61–6.91, P < 0.0001), hypercholesterolemia (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.77–5.20, P < 0.0001) and BMI (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.04–1.17, P = 0.007) reached statistical signiﬁcance. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, smoking habit (OR 4.29, 95% CI 2.68–6.86, P < 0.0001), hypertension (OR 3.57, 95% CI 2.11–6.07, P < 0.0001), and hypercholesterolemia (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.51–5.00, P = 0.001) reached statistical signiﬁcance, while BMI (OR 1.06, 95% CI 0.99–1.12, P = 0.09) did not.Conclusions:  CaOX stone formers are signiﬁcantly associated with several CHD risk factors, including smoking habit, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity.
Value of prostate volume measurement using transabdominal ultrasonography for the improvement of prostate‐speciﬁc antigen‐based cancer detection
Authors: KOBAYASHI TAKASHI , KAWAHARA TAKASHI , NISHIZAWA KOJI , OGURA KEIJI , MITSUMORI KENJI , IDE YOSHIHIRO 
Published: November 2005

Abstract  Purpose:  To examine value of prostate‐speciﬁc antigen (PSA) adjusted by prostate volume measured using transabdominal ultrasonography in prostate cancer detection among men with elevated PSA.Methods:  238 men aged 79 years or younger with serum PSA levels of 2.0–20.0 ng/mL and normal digital rectal examination ﬁndings were studied in terms of total and free PSA, prostate volumes with transrectal (TRUS) and transabdominal (TAUS) ultrasonography and transition zone volumes with TRUS prior to transrectal 10‐core biopsy. In addition to sole PSA values and the free‐to‐total PSA ratio, volume‐adjusted PSA values, PSA densities determined by TRUS (PSADTRUS), and TAUS (PSADTAUS), and PSA transition zone densities (PSATzD) were compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.Results:  Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 58 (24.4%) of the 238 men who underwent prostate biopsies. Of the areas under ROC curves (AUC) of studied parameters, PSATzD (AUC 0.751) was the best and signiﬁcantly superior to PSADTAUS (AUC 0.664, P = 0.007). However, PSADTAUS exceeded PSA (AUC 0.559, P = 0.004) and showed potential capability of a one‐fourth reduction in unnecessary biopsies without spoiling sensitivity (90%). Cancer detection rate was only 4.2% in the 48 patients whose prostate volume in TAUS was > 50 mL and PSADTAUS was < 0.075.Conclusions:  Since PSADTRUS and PSATzD were signiﬁcantly superior to PSADTAUS, TRUS is feasible as the standard fashion to determine prostate volume in the diagnosis of prostate cancers. However, TAUS is also worthwhile as it can improve the prostate cancer detection using sole PSA, and primary use of TAUS has the potential to reduce the substantial number of unnecessary biopsy safely.
Testicular tumor in Down syndrome
Authors: SUZUKI KURI , NISHIMI DAISUKE , YAGISHITA TSUGUO , TAKANAMI MASAHARU , HIRUTA NOBUYUKI 
Published: November 2005

Abstract  A 33‐year‐old male patient with Down syndrome, who stayed in a welfare institution, visited our hospital due to left testicular enlargement. He was diagnosed as having a left testicular tumor and underwent radical inguinal orchiectomy. Preoperatively, serum level of beta‐human chorionic gonadotrophin (β‐HCG) increased to 0.9 ng/mL (normal range <0.2 ng/mL). For the last 2 years after orchiectomy, the serum level of β‐HCG remained normal. Histopathological examination of specimen revealed a typical seminoma. It is currently thought that risk of developing leukemia in patients with Down syndrome is 20‐ to 30‐fold higher than that in normal subjects. Furthermore, the incidence of testicular cancer as a complication other than leukemia is expected to increase because of the increasing postpubertal population with Down syndrome.
Fibroblast growth factor 2 applied to the optic nerve after axotomy up‐regulates BDNF and TrkB in ganglion cells by activating the ERK and PKA signaling pathways
Authors: Soto Ileana , Rosenthal Joshua J. C. , Blagburn Jonathan M. , Blanco Rosa E. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractApplication of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF‐2) to the optic nerve after axotomy promotes the survival of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in the frog,Rana pipiens. Here we investigate the effects of FGF‐2 treatment upon the synthesis of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor, tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB). Axotomy alone increased the amounts ofBDNFandTrkBmRNA in RGCs after 1 week and 48 h, respectively; FGF‐2 treatment to the nerve accelerated and increased this up‐regulation of both. FGF‐2 also increased the amounts of phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (pCREB) in the retina. Blocking extracellular‐regulated kinase (ERK) activation with PD98059 or U0126 prevented the FGF‐2‐induced up‐regulation ofBDNFtranscription but had no effect onTrkB. However, blocking protein kinase A (PKA) with H89 or Rp‐8‐Cl‐cAMPS reduced the up‐regulation of bothBDNFandTrkB, and reduced pCREB. In addition, H89 inhibited ERK activation, indicating cross‐talk between the pathways. Finally, axonal application of blocking antibody against the FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) prevented the FGF‐2‐induced up‐regulation of BDNF and TrkB. Our results suggest that FGF‐2 acts on RGCs via FGFR1, activating the ERK pathway and CREB to increase BDNF synthesis, and PKA and CREB to increase TrkB synthesis.
Group‐specific primers for amplifying DNA sequences that identify Amphipoda, Cephalopoda, Echinodermata, Gastropoda, Isopoda, Ostracoda and Thoracica
Authors: JARMAN S. N. , REDD K. S. , GALES N. J. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractWe describe seven group‐specific primer pairs that amplify small sections of ribosomal RNA genes suitable for identification of animal groups of major importance as prey items in marine ecosystems. These primer sets allow the isolation of DNA from the target animal groups from mixed pools of DNA, where DNA‐based identification using universal primers is unlikely to succeed. The primers are designed for identifying prey in animal diets, but could be used in any situation where these animal groups are to be identified by their DNA.
Development of 10 polymorphic microsatellite markers from herbicide‐bleached tissues of the brooding pocilloporid coral Seriatopora hystrix
Authors: UNDERWOOD J. N. , SOUTER P. B. , BALLMENT E. R. , LUTZ A. H. , VAN OPPEN M. J. H. 
Published: November 2005

AbstractHere we report the isolation of 44 microsatellites from the brooding, pocilloporid coral, Seriatopora hystrix, developed from a partial genomic DNA library using a repeat enrichment protocol. A further eight previously published microsatellites were also tested; five of these were developed for S. hystrix, whereas three were isolated from corals of the closely related genus Pocillopora. Out of these, we incorporated nine and 10 primer pairs into two multiplex reactions that reliably amplified polymorphic microsatellites in populations from the west and the east coast of Australia, respectively. Number of alleles ranged from three to 22 per locus.
Polymorphic microsatellite markers in the painted dragon lizard, Ctenophorus pictus
Authors: AUSTIN JEREMY J. , ROSE REBECCA J. , MELVILLE JANE 
Published: November 2005

AbstractWe isolated eight polymorphic microsatellite markers from the painted dragon, Ctenophorus pictus, from a genomic library simultaneously enriched for a suite of di‐, tri‐ and tetranucleotide repeat units. Genetic variation was assessed in 40 individuals from populations in Victoria and South Australia. The number of alleles per locus ranged from four to 45 with observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.23 to 0.95. These markers will be useful for studies of natural and sexual selection and the effects of habitat fragmentation in semiarid Australia.
HLA class II haplotype DRB1*04–DQB1*0301 contributes to risk of familial generalized vitiligo and early disease onset
Authors: Fain Pamela R. , Babu Sunanda R. , Bennett Dorothy C. , Spritz Richard A. 
Published: November 2005

SummaryGeneralized vitiligo is a common autoimmune disorder characterized by white patches of skin and overlying hair caused by loss of pigment‐forming melanocytes from involved areas. Familial clustering of vitiligo is not uncommon, and patients and their relatives are at increased risk for a specific complex of other autoimmune diseases. Compared with sporadic vitiligo, familial vitiligo is characterized by earlier disease onset and greater risk and broader repertoire of autoimmunity, suggesting a stronger genetic component, and perhaps stronger associations with specific alleles. To determine whether the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) contributes to the familial clustering of vitiligo and vitiligo‐associated autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases, we performed case–control and family‐based association analyses of HLA class II‐DRB1 and ‐DQB1 alleles and haplotypes in affected probands and their parents from 76 European‐American Caucasian families with familial vitiligo. Affected probands showed a significantly increased frequency of DRB1*04–DQB1*0301 and a significantly decreased frequency of DRB1*15–DQB1*0602 compared with a large sample of reference chromosomes. Family‐based association analyses confirmed these results. Probands with DRB1*04–DQB1*0301 developed vitiligo an average of 13.32 yr earlier than probands with DRB1*15–DQB1*0602. Overall, our results indicate that specific MHC‐linked genetic variation contributes to risk of familial vitiligo, although HLA does not completely explain familial clustering of vitiligo‐associated autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases.
Culture-Independent Techniques for Rapid Detection of Bacteria Associated with Loss of Chloramine Residual in a Drinking Water System
Authors: Hoefel Daniel , Monis Paul T. , Grooby Warwick L. , Andrews Stuart , Saint Christopher P. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACTChloramination is often the disinfection regimen of choice for extended drinking water systems. However, this process is prone to instability due to the growth of nitrifying bacteria. This is the first study to use alternative approaches for rapid investigation of chloraminated drinking water system instability in which flow cytometric cell sorting of bacteria with intact membranes (membrane-intact fraction) (BacLight kit) or with active esterases (esterase-active fraction) (carboxyfluorescein diacetate) was combined with 16S rRNA gene-directed PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). No active bacteria were detected when water left the water treatment plant (WTP), but 12 km downstream the chloramine residual had diminished and the level of active bacteria in the bulk water had increased to more than 1 × 105bacteria ml−1. The bacterial diversity in the system was represented by six major DGGE bands for the membrane-intact fraction and 10 major DGGE bands for the esterase-active fraction. PCR targeting of the 16S rRNA gene of chemolithotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and subsequent DGGE and DNA sequence analysis revealed the presence of an activeNitrosospira-related species andNitrosomonas cryotoleransin the system, but no AOB were detected in the associated WTP. The abundance of active AOB was then determined by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) targeting theamoAgene; 3.43 × 103active AOB ml−1were detected in the membrane-intact fraction, and 1.40 × 104active AOB ml−1were detected in the esterase-active fraction. These values were several orders of magnitude greater than the 2.5 AOB ml−1detected using a routine liquid most-probable-number assay. Culture-independent techniques described here, in combination with existing chemical indicators, should allow the water industry to obtain more comprehensive data with which to make informed decisions regarding remedial action that may be required either prior to or during an instability event.
CorA Affects Tolerance of
Escherichia coli
and
Salmonella enterica
Serovar Typhimurium to the Lactoperoxidase Enzyme System but Not to Other Forms of Oxidative Stress
Authors: Sermon Jan , Wevers Eva M.-R. P. , Jansen Leentje , De Spiegeleer Philipp , Vanoirbeek Kristof , Aertsen Abram , Michiels Chris W. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

The enzyme lactoperoxidase is part of the innate immune system in vertebrates and owes its antimicrobial activity to the formation of oxidative reaction products from various substrates. In a previous study, we have reported that, with thiocyanate as a substrate, the lactoperoxidase system elicits a distinct stress response in
Escherichia coli
MG1655. This response is different from but partly overlapping with the stress responses to hydrogen peroxide and to superoxide. In the current work, we constructed knockouts in 10 lactoperoxidase system-inducible genes to investigate their role in the tolerance of
E. coli
MG1655 to this antimicrobial system. Five mutations resulted in a slightly increased sensitivity, but one mutation (
corA
) caused hypersensitivity to the lactoperoxidase system. This hypersensitive phenotype was specific to the lactoperoxidase system, since neither the sensitivity to hydrogen peroxide nor to the superoxide generator plumbagin was affected in the
corA
mutant.
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium
corA
had a similar phenotype. Although
corA
encodes an Mg
2+
transporter and at least three other inducible open reading frames belonged to the Mg
2+
regulon, repression of the Mg stimulon by Mg
2+
did not change the lactoperoxidase sensitivity of either the wild-type or
corA
mutant. Prior exposure to 0.3 mM Ni
2+
, which is also transported by CorA, strongly sensitized MG1655 but not the
corA
mutant to the lactoperoxidase system. Furthermore, this Ni
2+
-dependent sensitization was suppressed by the CorA-specific inhibitor Co(III) hexaammine. These results indicate that CorA affects the lactoperoxidase sensitivity of
E. coli
by modulating the cytoplasmic concentrations of transition metals that enhance the toxicity of the lactoperoxidase system.
Lactobacillus paracasei
subsp.
paracasei
8700:2 Degrades Inulin-Type Fructans Exhibiting Different Degrees of Polymerization
Authors: Makras Lefteris , Van Acker Gerald , De Vuyst Luc 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

Ten strains of lactobacilli were assessed for their capacity to degrade inulin-type fructans, which are well-known prebiotics. Both oligofructose and inulin were tested. The dairy isolate
Lactobacillus acidophilus
IBB 801 degraded only oligofructose. The human isolate
Lactobacillus paracasei
subsp.
paracasei
8700:2 degraded oligofructose and long-chain inulin and grew rapidly on both energy sources. In both cases, fractions of different degrees of polymerization were fermented. Moreover, large and short fractions of oligofructose were degraded simultaneously. When
L. paracasei
subsp.
paracasei
8700:2 grew on oligofructose-enriched inulin, oligofructose was preferentially metabolized. In all cases, lactic acid was the main metabolic end product. Significant amounts of acetic acid, formic acid, and ethanol were produced when long-chain inulin or oligofructose-enriched inulin was used as the sole energy source.
Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Antialgal Allelochemical fromPhragmites communis
Authors: Li Feng-Min , Hu Hong-Ying 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACTAntialgal allelochemicals were isolated fromPhragmites communisTris. The isolated allelopathic fraction showed strong inhibition activity on the growth ofChlorella pyrenoidosaandMicrocystis aeruginosabut had no inhibition onChlorella vulgaris.The 50% effective concentrations (EC50) of the allelopathic fractions onC. pyrenoidosaandM. aeruginosawere 0.49 and 0.79 mg/liter, respectively. The allelopathic activity of the fraction was species-specific. The isolated allelopathic fraction caused metal ion leakage from algal cells. The fraction decreased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase and peroxidase. The addition of the isolated fraction increased the concentration of unsaturated lipid fatty acids in cell membrane ofC. pyrenoidosaandM. aeruginosa. This caused a change in plasma membrane integrity and the leakage of ions in the protoplast. The allelopathic compound was identified by nuclear magnetic resonance and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as ethyl 2-methylacetoacetate. Synthesized ethyl 2-methylacetoacetate also showed allelopathic activity onC. pyrenoidosaandM. aeruginosa. The EC50of synthesized ethyl 2-methylacetoacetate onC. pyrenoidosaandM. aeruginosawere 0.49 and 0.65 mg/liter, respectively.
Bacteriophage Therapy To Reduce
Campylobacter jejuni
Colonization of Broiler Chickens
Authors: Loc Carrillo C. , Atterbury R. J. , El-Shibiny A. , Connerton P. L. , Dillon E. , Scott A. , Connerton I. F. 
Published: November 2005

ABSTRACT

Colonization of broiler chickens by the enteric pathogen
Campylobacter jejuni
is widespread and difficult to prevent. Bacteriophage therapy is one possible means by which this colonization could be controlled, thus limiting the entry of campylobacters into the human food chain. Prior to evaluating the efficacy of phage therapy, experimental models of
Campylobacter
colonization of broiler chickens were established by using low-passage
C. jejuni
isolates HPC5 and GIIC8 from United Kingdom broiler flocks. The screening of 53 lytic bacteriophage isolates against a panel of 50
Campylobacter
isolates from broiler chickens and 80 strains isolated after human infection identified two phage candidates with broad host lysis. These phages, CP8 and CP34, were orally administered in antacid suspension, at different dosages, to 25-day-old broiler chickens experimentally colonized with the
C. jejuni
broiler isolates. Phage treatment of
C. jejuni
-colonized birds resulted in
Campylobacter
counts falling between 0.5 and 5 log
10
CFU/g of cecal contents compared to untreated controls over a 5-day period postadministration. These reductions were dependent on the phage-
Campylobacter
combination, the dose of phage applied, and the time elapsed after administration.
Campylobacter
s resistant to bacteriophage infection were recovered from phage-treated chickens at a frequency of <4%. These resistant types were compromised in their ability to colonize experimental chickens and rapidly reverted to a phage-sensitive phenotype in vivo. The selection of appropriate phage and their dose optimization are key elements for the success of phage therapy to reduce campylobacters in broiler chickens.