bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
New paradigms for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Fung James , Lai Ching‐Lung , Yuen Man‐Fung 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe main goals of chronic hepatitis B treatment should be the long‐term suppression of viral replication to minimize disease progression and the risk for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Treatment end‐points, depending on surrogate markers alone, in particular hepatitis B e‐antigen seroconversion, may not be ideal for patients who acquire the disease early in life.Currently‐available drugs include interferons and oral nucleoside/nucleotide analogs. Although interferon therapy provides a finite treatment period, a significant proportion of patients may not respond, and long‐term outcome is inconclusive. Long‐term efficacy has been demonstrated for both lamivudine and adefovir. However, prolonged nucleoside/nucleotide analog therapy is associated with the emergence of drug‐resistant mutations. Therefore, nucleoside/nucleotide analogs with a high genetic barrier and potent antiviral activity, such as entecavir, should be used to reduce the chance of developing drug‐resistant mutations. Drugs with a low genetic barrier, including lamivudine and telbivudine, should be used in conjunction with early testing for antiviral response. This can predict favorable outcomes in the long term. The early detection of drug‐resistant mutations should prompt clinicians to either add or switch to another agent with a different drug‐resistance profile. There are currently no treatment models in the use of combination or sequential therapy in treatment‐naïve patients.To date, long‐term treatment appears to be the most effective option. Despite recent advances made with better understanding on the natural history of chronic hepatitis B infection and with newer antiviral drugs available, challenges remain with respect to treatment criteria, treatment end‐points, and duration of treatment.
Ruggero Oddi: 120 years after the description of the eponymous sphincter: A story to be remembered
Authors: Capodicasa Enrico 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThis article presents a short account of theories, methods, and experimental data formulated and carried out 120 years ago, by Ruggero Oddi, then a 4th‐year student in medicine, about the identification of the common bile duct sphincter. A historical picture emerges which leads us to think that Oddi not only discovered the bile duct sphincter, but also described bile duct dilation after cholecystectomy and performed biliary manometry for the first time. The role of serendipity and the almost unknown contribution of Arturo Marcacci, Oddi's “maestro” are also mentioned.
Mechanism for gastric cancer development by Helicobacter pylori infection
Authors: Chiba Tsutomu , Marusawa Hiroyuki , Seno Hiroshi , Watanabe Norihiko 
Published: July 2008

Abstract Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection plays a crucial role in the development of gastric cancer. There are two major pathways for the development of gastric cancer by H. pylori infection: the indirect action of H. pylori on gastric epithelial cells through inflammation, and the direct action of the bacteria on epithelial cells through the induction of protein modulation and gene mutation. Both pathways work together to promote gastric carcinogenesis.
Evaluation of the prognostic powers of various tumor status grading scales in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Seo Yeon Seok , Kim Young Jin , Um Soon Ho , Yoo Hanna , Lee Jae Won , Kim Yong Sik , Jeen Yoon Tae , Chun Hoon Jai , Kim Chang Duck , Ryu Ho Sang 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBackgrounds and Aim:  Several tumor status grading scales are available for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which include several tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) systems and clinical staging systems, such as Cancer of the Liver Italian Program (CLIP) and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC). This study was performed to analyze the prognostic powers of these tumor status grading systems in HCC.Methods:  A retrospective cohort of 499 consecutive patients with HCC was included. The tumor statuses of all patients were classified according to several TNM systems (sixth version of the American Joint Committee on Cancer, fourth version of the Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan [LCSGJ], and the United Network for Organ Sharing UNOS system) and according to the tumor status grading scales of the BCLC (TBCLC) and CLIP (TCLIP) systems. Prognostic powers were quantified using a linear trend χ2‐test, c‐index, and the likelihood ratio (LHR) χ2‐test, and correlated using Cox's regression model adjusted using the Akaike information criterion (AIC).Results:  Of the TNM systems, the fourth LCSGJ system had the highest prognostic power (LHR χ2 = 7.20, AIC = 4803.02). However, when TBCLC and TCLIP were included in the analysis, TCLIP showed the best predictive power (LHR χ2 = 29.52, AIC = 4799.82).Conclusion:  TCLIP had best predictive power in HCC patients of the various tumor staging systems examined. To improve prognostic power, factors other than tumor burden, such as tumor behavior, should be included in the tumor status grading system for HCC.
Prediction value of model for end‐stage liver disease scoring system on prognosis in patients with acute‐on‐chronic hepatitis B liver failure after plasma exchange and lamivudine treatment
Authors: Yu Jian‐Wu , Sun Li‐Jie , Zhao Yong‐Hua , Li Shu‐Chen 
Published: July 2008

AbstractBackground and Aim:  We used the model for end‐stage liver disease (MELD) scoring system to predict the 3‐month prognosis of patients with acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF) after plasma exchange (PE) and lamivudine treatment, and studied the predictive factors on the prognosis of patients.Methods:  A total of 280 patients treated with lamivudine were randomly divided into PE and control groups. The relationship between mortality and influential factors of patients was studied by univariate and multivariate analysis.Results:  The mortality (49.4%) of patients in the PE group with a MELD score from 30 to 40 was lower than that (86.1%) of the control group (χ2 = 24.546, P < 0.01). The total bilirubin (TBIL) rebound rate of the dead group was significantly higher than that of the survival group (P < 0.01). Univariate analysis showed that mortality was significantly related to age (P = 0.003), treatment method (P = 0.000), TBIL (P = 0.010), MELD score (P = 0.001), international normalised ratio (P = 0.014), pretreatment HBV‐DNA load (P = 0.000), decline of hepatitis B virus (HBV)–DNA load during therapy (P = 0.013), encephalopathy (P = 0.019), and hepatorenal syndrome (P = 0.026). In multivariate analysis, MELD scores of 30–40, treatment method (P = 0.003), pretreatment HBV‐DNA load (P = 0.009), decline of HBV‐DNA load during therapy (P = 0.016), and encephalopathy (P = 0.015) were independent predictors of mortality; for MELD scores above 40, only the MELD score (P = 0.012) was an independent predictive.Conclusions:  PE significantly decreased the mortality of patients with a MELD score of 30–40. For ACLF patients with a MELD score of 30–40, a low viral load pretreatment and quick decline of HBV‐DNA load are good predictors for the survival with PE and lamivudine treatment.
Environmental dust granulometry and microbial load in the presence of tobacco smoke
Authors: MACRINA Gianni , BAROFFIO Michele , BRUNO Barbara , TAZZER Carla , CRIMI Paolo 
Published: July 2008

Background and objective:  Several studies describe damage from passive smoking in humans. However, it is not clearly understood how different chemical and physical components relate to mechanisms of damage. This investigation was focused on the particulate phase of environmental cigarette smoke. The size of particles is very important in the inhalation process and subsequent deposition of particles in the airways.Methods:  The granulometry of suspended dust and bacterial particles was studied in a 120‐m3 no‐smoking room during and after the smoking of one cigarette in ten separate experiments. Granulometry was assessed by a six‐channel particle counter. Suspended microbial load was evaluated by a surface air system. The sedimented bacterial load was evaluated by the air microbial index technique, which expresses the total number of microorganisms settling on a Petri plate under gravity.Results:  The number of large particles increased during the first minute of smoking, and then decreased to basal levels. The number of medium‐sized particles increased during the first 10 min of cigarette smoking, and then decreased to basal levels. The number of small particles increased over the whole experimental period. Bacterial and mycotic load decreased during and up to 60 min after cigarette smoking. Gram‐positive cocci did not decrease, while chromogenous bacteria and mycetes decreased at 30 min. There was an increase in the numbers of sedimented bacteria and mycetes at 60 min, a decrease at 120 min and stabilization at 180 min.Conclusions:  Smoking of tobacco accelerates the sedimentation of larger agglomerates of mean‐sized smoke particles and bacteria, which may be re‐suspended by the movement of people in the room and consequently inhaled.
Preventive effects of edaravone, a free radical scavenger, on lipopolysaccharide‐induced lung injury in mice
Authors: TAJIMA Shunji , SODA Manabu , BANDO Masashi , ENOMOTO Munehiro , YAMASAWA Hideaki , OHNO Shoji , TAKADA Toshinori , SUZUKI Eiichi , GEJYO Fumitake , SUGIYAMA Yukihiko 
Published: July 2008

Background and objective: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) and pulmonary fibrosis. It was hypothesized that edaravone, a free radical scavenger, would be able to attenuate LPS‐induced lung injury in mice by decreasing oxidative stress.Methods: For thein vivoexperiments, lung injury was induced in female BALB/c mice by the intranasal instillation of LPS. Edaravone was given by intraperitoneal administration 1 h before the LPS challenge. For thein vitroexperiments, MH‐S cells (murine alveolar macrophage cell line) were exposed to edaravone, followed by stimulation with LPS.Results: In the LPS‐induced ALI mouse model, the administration of edaravone attenuated cellular infiltration into and the concentrations of albumin, IL‐6, tumour necrosis factor‐α, keratinocyte‐derived chemokine and macrophage inflammatory protein‐2 in BAL fluid. In addition, thein vitrostudies showed that the elevated IL‐6 secretion from MH‐S cells in response to LPS was significantly attenuated by co‐incubation with edaravone.Conclusions: In an experimental murine model, a free radical scavenger may prevent ALI via repression of pro‐inflammatory cytokine production by lung macrophages.
Recombinant human erythropoietin reduces epithelial cell apoptosis and attenuates bleomycin‐induced pneumonitis in mice
Authors: YOSHIMI Michihiro , MAEYAMA Takashige , YAMADA Mizuho , HAMADA Naoki , FUKUMOTO Jyutaro , KAWAGUCHI Tomonobu , KUWANO Kazuyoshi , NAKANISHI Yoichi 
Published: July 2008

Background and objective:  Erythropoietin (EPO) has recently been demonstrated to have a tissue protective role by acting as an anti‐apoptotic agent in various tissues, such as brain, spinal cord, heart and kidney. The purpose of this study was to determine whether human recombinant EPO reduces epithelial cell apoptosis and attenuates bleomycin‐induced pneumonitis in mice.Methods:  Bleomycin was instilled intratracheally into C57BL/6 mice. Recombinant human EPO or saline was injected intraperitoneally, daily from day 5 to day 13 after bleomycin instillation.Results:  EPO receptor was expressed in bronchiolar and alveolar type II cells. At 14 days after instillation, the number of terminal uridine deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick end‐labelled positive cells in the lung was decreased, and the histological degree of inflammation and fibrosis was attenuated in mice injected with EPO compared with controls. Expression of phosphorylated Akt and Erk, which are thought to mediate the survival signalling pathway induced by EPO, tended to be increased in lung tissues from mice treated with EPO compared with those from mice treated with saline after bleomycin instillation.Conclusions:  As it is likely that EPO protects epithelial cells from injury and apoptosis, EPO administration could be a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention of lung injury.
Bosentan therapy in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: The relationship between improvements in 6 minute walk distance and quality of life
Authors: STRANGE Geoff , KEOGH Anne M. , WILLIAMS Trevor J. , WLODARCZYK John , MCNEIL Keith D. , GABBAY Eli 
Published: July 2008

Background and objective:  Bosentan, an oral, dual endothelin receptor antagonist, significantly improves functional status, haemodynamic measures and survival in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, there are limited data on the effect of bosentan on quality of life (QOL) and its relationship to changes in functional status, as measured by the 6 minute walk distance (6MWD).Methods:  A retrospective analysis was performed of a large, open‐label, multicentre trial (VITAL) of bosentan in patients with PAH. Data for 6MWD were collected at baseline, 3 or 6 months and these results were correlated with QOL measurements collected as part of the assessment of patients enrolled in the trial.Results:  Sixty‐nine patients with PAH (mean age 52 years) who were enrolled in the trial had valid QOL (SF‐36) measurements and 6MWD data that could be retrieved from clinical notes. At 3 and 6 months, bosentan therapy improved 6MWD compared with baseline (49.5 m and 47.2 m, respectively, P < 0.001) as well as QOL domains, with a significant correlation between these two markers on cross‐sectional analysis. However, there was a poor relationship when comparing changes in 6MWD with changes in QOL, in response to therapy.Conclusion:  Bosentan therapy was associated with improvements in QOL and 6MWD for at least 6 months. At all measured time points, there was a close correlation between 6MWD and most QOL domains. QOL is an important parameter and should be considered as part of the standard assessment for any trial investigating therapy in PAH.
The efficacy and applicability of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme for patients with COPD in a secondary‐care community hospital
Authors: ELÇI Alev , BÖREKÇI ŞErmin , OVAYOLU Nimet , ELBEK Osman 
Published: July 2008

Background and objective:  Pulmonary rehabilitation is known to have beneficial effects in COPD patients. This study aimed to assess the applicability and efficacy of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme in a community hospital lacking specialist pulmonary rehabilitation services.Methods:  This randomized, controlled, prospective study included a total of 78 patients. Questionnaires were used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, respiratory function tests, the Modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale, 6MWD, the Short Form‐36 (SF‐36) quality of life scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). The experimental group underwent a pulmonary rehabilitation programme while the control group did not participate. The first, second and third month measurements for all parameters were compared between the two groups.Results:  No significant differences in pulmonary function tests or dyspnoea scale (P > 0.05) were observed between the two groups. Significant differences were observed in the 6MWD measurements at the third month (P < 0.05), as well as in the SF‐36 quality of life scale, SGRQ and HADS measurements at the second and third months (P < 0.01).Conclusions:  Short‐term pulmonary rehabilitation had a positive impact on exercise capacity and quality of life of patients with COPD, irrespective of FEV1. This study demonstrated the efficacy of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme in a secondary care hospital not staffed by a specialist pulmonary rehabilitation group.
Comparison of severity scoring systems A‐DROP and CURB‐65 for community‐acquired pneumonia
Authors: SHINDO Yuichiro , SATO Shinji , MARUYAMA Eiichi , OHASHI Takamasa , OGAWA Masahiro , IMAIZUMI Kazuyoshi , HASEGAWA Yoshinori 
Published: July 2008

Background and objective:  The initial assessment of the severity of community‐acquired pneumonia (CAP) is important for patient management. The Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) has proposed a 6‐point scale (0–5) to assess the clinical severity of CAP. The A‐DROP scoring system assesses the following parameters: (i) Age (male ≥ 70 years, female ≥ 75 years); (ii) Dehydration (blood urea nitrogen (BUN) ≥ 210 mg/L); (iii) Respiratory failure (SaO2 ≤ 90% or PaO2 ≤ 60 mm Hg); (iv) Orientation disturbance (confusion); and (v) low blood Pressure (systolic blood pressure ≤ 90 mm Hg). A‐DROP is a modified version of CURB‐65 (confusion, BUN > 7 mmol/L (200 mg/L), respiratory rate ≥ 30/min, low blood pressure (diastolic ≤ 60 mm Hg or systolic < 90 mm Hg, and age ≥ 65 years) proposed by the British Thoracic Society. However, validation of A‐DROP has not been attempted nor has it been compared with CURB‐65. The aim of this study was to confirm that A‐DROP is equivalent to CURB‐65 for predicting severity of CAP.Methods:  A retrospective observational study was conducted of patients with CAP hospitalized at a single centre between November 2005 and January 2007. The 30‐day mortality after admission was compared following assessment of severity using the A‐DROP and CURB‐65 scoring systems.Results:  Three‐hundred and twenty‐nine patients were evaluated. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.846 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.790–0.903) and 0.835 (95% CI: 0.763–0.908) for A‐DROP and CURB‐65, respectively.Conclusion:  The JRS A‐DROP can be used to assess severity of CAP, and gives similar results to CURB‐65.
Behavioural responses of wheat stem sawflies to wheat volatiles
Authors: Piesik D. , Weaver D. K. , Runyon J. B. , Buteler M. , Peck G. E. , Morrill W. L. 
Published: July 2008

Abstract1 Adult wheat stem sawflies Cephus cinctus, pests of cultivated cereals that also infests wild grasses, migrate into wheat fields where they oviposit in elongating, succulent stems.2 Volatiles released by wheat plants at susceptible stages were analyzed to determine potential semiochemical compounds. Seven major compounds were identified and quantified.3 A Y‐tube bioassay was developed to evaluate upwind orientation of adult sawflies in response to an airstream that passed over elongated wheat plants. The bioassay was also conducted with synthetic volatile compounds. The compounds were tested using a range of concentrations spanning those identified in the airstream passing over wheat plants.4 A significant number of adult females were attracted to wheat plants when given a choice of either purified air or the air passing over plants.5 A significant number of female C. cinctus were attracted to (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate, β‐ocimene, and (Z)‐3‐hexen‐1‐ol, but were repelled by 6‐methyl‐5‐hepten‐2‐one. Females did not respond to (E)‐2‐hexenal, or (E)‐2‐hexenyl acetate. The behavioural responses were concentration dependent; the highest tested concentration of (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate was repellent to females of this species.6 Adult males did not discriminate between air passing over wheat plants and air from a purified airstream. Males did not respond to any tested synthetic compound at any concentration.7 The present study demonstrates for the first time that adult females of wheat stem sawfly display innate behaviours in response to synthetic volatiles. These results provide a basis for the potential development of resistant wheat varieties and for the development of semiochemically‐based pest management.
Promotion and Fast Food Demand
Authors: Richards Timothy J. , Padilla Luis 
Published: July 2008

AbstractMany believe that fast food promotion is a significant cause of the obesity epidemic in North America. Industry members argue that promotion only reallocates brand shares and does not increase overall demand. We study the effect of fast food promotion on market share and total demand by estimating a discrete / continuous model of fast food restaurant choice and food expenditure that explicitly accounts for both spatial and temporal determinants of demand. Estimates are obtained using a unique panel of Canadian fast food consumers. The results show that promotion primarily increases demand and has a smaller effect on restaurant market shares.
Induced Innovation in U.S. Agriculture: Time‐series, Direct Econometric, and Nonparametric Tests
Authors: Liu Yucan , Shumway C. Richard 
Published: July 2008

AbstractThe hypothesis of induced innovation is tested for U.S. agriculture using a high‐quality state‐level panel data set and three disparate testing techniques—time series, direct econometric, and nonparametric. We find little support for the hypothesis. That conclusion is robust across testing techniques. However, as with all empirical tests of this hypothesis conducted to date, ours focus only on the demand side of the hypothesis. The hypothesis could have been rejected simply because the marginal cost of developing and implementing input‐saving technologies for the relatively expensive inputs is greater than for the relatively cheap inputs.
A Bioeconomic Model of Cattle Stocking on Rangeland Threatened by Invasive Plants and Nitrogen Deposition
Authors: Finnoff David , Strong Aaron , Tschirhart John 
Published: July 2008

AbstractAcross western North America, invasive plant species and elevated levels of nitrogen are threatening the productivity of rangelands. A bioeconomic model of stocking cattle on these rangelands is used to show that optimal stocking depends on the competition between native grasses and the invaders. However, nitrogen deposition is important in determining the ultimate rangeland species composition. Endogenous changes in plant successional thresholds are due to the interplay of nitrogen deposition and stocking practices. Nonoptimal overstocking can create ecosystem niches for invaders where they would not have occurred at lower stocking rates, although what constitutes overstocking depends on the nitrogen levels.
Do Overlapping Land Rights Reduce Agricultural Investment? Evidence from Uganda
Authors: Deininger Klaus , Ali Daniel Ayalew 
Published: July 2008

AbstractWhile the need for land‐related investment for sustainable land management and increased productivity is well recognized, quantitative evidence on agricultural productivity effects of secure property rights in Africa is scant. Within‐household analysis of investments by owner‐cum‐occupants in Uganda points toward significant and quantitatively large investment effects of full ownership. Registration is estimated to have no investment effects, whereas measures to strengthen occupancy rights attenuate investment disincentives. While this supports the importance of secure tenure as a precondition for growth, it also suggests that interventions aiming to increase tenure security need to be context‐specific for it to be fully effective.
Point/Nonpoint Effluent Trading with Spatial Heterogeneity
Authors: Lankoski Jussi , Lichtenberg Erik , Ollikainen Markku 
Published: July 2008

AbstractPotential earnings from permits sales may provide an incentive for farmers to accept water quality regulation. We derive optimal adjustments of point/nonpoint effluent trading ratios for heterogeneity in marginal environmental damage and degradation/retention of the pollutant across locations in a watershed. A simulation based on data from the Kymi River Valley, Finland, indicates that farmers are the greatest suppliers of permits, as expected, but that gains from trading vary substantially. Some farmers may become net buyers of permits and thus net losers from regulation. The benefits of effluent trading are distributed unevenly among point sources as well.