bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deletion/Insertion Polymorphism of the Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Gene and White Matter Hyperintensities in Dementia: A Pilot Study
Authors: Purandare Nitin , Oude Voshaar Richard C. , Davidson Yvonne , Gibbons Linda , Hardicre Jayne , Byrne Jane , McCollum Charles , Jackson Alan , Burns Alistair , Mann David M. A. 
Published: July 2006

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between the angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) deletion/insertion (D/I) polymorphism and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) in patients with dementia.DESIGN: Observational pilot study with adjustment for potential confounders using analysis of covariance.SETTING: Secondary care old‐age psychiatry services in greater Manchester, United Kingdom.PARTICIPANTS: Ninety‐seven patients with dementia: 49 with Alzheimer's disease (AD, National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke/Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association criteria) and 48 with vascular dementia (VaD, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement en Neurosciences criteria).MEASUREMENTS: The ACE D/I polymorphism, WMHs (deep WMHs (DWMHs) and periventricular hyperintensities (PVHs)) on T2‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging, and potential cardiovascular confounders.RESULTS: The D/D polymorphism of the ACE genotype was associated with severity of DWMH (P=.005) but not PVH (P=.34), corrected for age, cardiovascular risk factors, and type of dementia. Post hoc analyses were limited by statistical power but suggested an interaction with the apolipoprotein E ɛ4 allele.CONCLUSION: The results support previous observations that genetic factors influence the development of WMHs in dementia. The involvement of the ACE D/I polymorphism in the pathogenesis of DWMHs in dementia (AD and VaD), by a mechanism that is independent of its association with cardiovascular risk factors, should be confirmed in a large population‐based sample.
Tobacco Cessation Counseling Across the Ages
Authors: Wallace Amy E. , Sairafi Nasser A. , Weeks William B. 
Published: July 2006

OBJECTIVES: To examine recent rates of tobacco cessation counseling and whether patient age or sex was associated with providers' adherence to tobacco cessation guidelines.DESIGN: Survey study.SETTING: The 2002 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS).PARTICIPANTS: Analysis of 22,605 records representing 687 million ambulatory care appointments with adults from the 2002 NAMCS.MEASUREMENTS: The proportion of visits by sex and age category during which physicians identified a patient's tobacco use status and counseled tobacco users to quit.RESULTS: The rates at which providers inquired about tobacco use were similar across groups, ranging from 65% of visits with men aged 20 to 44 to 73% of visits with women aged 45 to 59, but providers' rates of tobacco cessation counseling differed by age, ranging from 27% of visits with male tobacco users aged 45 to 59 to 6% of visits with male tobacco users aged 75 old and older.CONCLUSION: Although providers frequently ask their patients about tobacco use, they infrequently counsel patients to quit, especially if those patients are older men. Provider time constraints, misconceptions about older patients' ability and willingness to quit, or doubt about the potential health benefits of tobacco cessation in this age group may explain the lower counseling rates provided to older male patients. Because rates of counseling have declined in the last decade, providers should be reeducated about the need for and effectiveness of tobacco cessation counseling for men and women of all ages.
Differential diagnosis of leg ulcers
Authors: Dissemond Joachim , Körber Andreas , Grabbe Stephan 
Published: July 2006

SummaryIn Germany about 0.7 % of the adult population have a chronic leg ulcer. Although chronic venous insufficiency accounts for at least 80 % of all chronic leg ulcers, knowledge of the relevant differential diagnostic considerations is of crucial importance, in particular for patients who are refractory to therapy. In addition to vascular disease, other causes include neuropathic, metabolic, hematologic and exogenous factors as well as neoplasias, infections, drugs, genetic defects and some primary skin disorders. For the long‐term successful treatment of patients with chronic leg ulcers, it is necessary to identify all relevant factors, in order to enable a pathogenesis‐oriented, interdisciplinary therapeutic approach.
A645G (Lys216Glu) polymorphism of the bactericidal/permeability‐increasing protein gene in periodontal disease
Authors: Glas J. , Török H.‐P. , Tonenchi L. , Hamann S. , Malachova O. , Euba A. , Folwaczny C. , Folwaczny M. 
Published: July 2006

SummaryBactericidal/permeability‐increasing protein (BPI) is a member of the pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune system and recognizes lipopolysaccharides (LPS), a bacterial component belonging to the pathogen‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). BPI mediates the neutralization of LPS and increases the phagocytosis and cytotoxicity against bacteria. Recently, the functionally effective polymorphism A645G resulting in the amino acid alteration Lys216Glu has been described. The aim of the study was to investigate the association of the A645G polymorphism with chronic periodontal disease.The study population comprised 123 patients with periodontal disease (36 with mild, 52 with moderate and 35 with severe periodontitis) and 122 healthy, unrelated control individuals. Genotyping of the BPI gene polymorphism A645G (Lys216Glu) was performed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Statistical analysis was carried out employing the χ2 test with Yates correction.Genotype and allele frequencies of the polymorphism tested herein showed no significant differences between periodontal disease as compared to the control group. The frequencies of the G allele were 52.4% in patients with periodontal disease and 49.2% in the control individuals (P = 0.528). Moreover, no significant associations could be detected after stratification for disease severity and according to gender.The present study does not give evidence for the contribution of the BPI gene to the genetic background of chronic periodontal disease.
Distribution of 22 cytokine gene polymorphisms in the healthy Czech population
Authors: Kubistova Z. , Mrazek F. , Tudos Z. , Kriegova E. , Ambruzova Z. , Mytilineos J. , Petrek M. 
Published: July 2006

SummaryCytokine gene polymorphisms (CGP) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of immune‐mediated diseases including transplant complications via their effect on cytokine production and regulation.This study aimed to determine population frequencies of selected cytokine single nucleotide polymorphisms in the healthy Czech population and compare them with the data from other selected European populations. CGP were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction with sequence‐specific primers (PCR–SSP) using the Heidelberg kit in 120 unrelated Czech healthy individuals. Chi‐squared analysis was used to test for a deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium.Allelic and genotype frequencies and carriage rates were determined for 22 CGP located within 13 cytokine genes in total. The frequencies observed in this study were similar to those available from the other two geographically close Central European centres, but they differed for several CGP from the data reported in south European populations.The data on the distribution of 22 CGP in the healthy Czech population reported here may be utilized to investigate possible associations of CGP with diseases or transplantation outcome.
Cytokine profiling of pulmonary aspergillosis
Authors: Sambatakou H. , Pravica V. , Hutchinson I. V. , Denning D. W. 
Published: July 2006

Summary Aspergillus fumigatus is ubiquitous and yet causes invasive, chronic and allergic disease of the lung. Chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis (CCPA) is a slowly destructive form of pulmonary aspergillosis, without immunocompromise. We hypothesized that CCPA cytokine gene polymorphisms would differ from patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and uninfected controls.We have profiled functional cytokine gene polymorphisms for interleukin (IL)‐10, IL‐15, transforming growth factors (TGF)‐β1, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interferon (IFN)‐γ in patients with CCPA (n = 24) who were compared with other forms of aspergillosis (mostly ABPA) (n = 15) and with ethnically matched controls (n = 65–330). Results are described with reference to the high‐producing genotype in each case.Susceptibility to aspergillosis (all patients compared with normal controls) was associated with higher frequency of the IL‐15 +13689*A allele (OR = 2.37, P = 0.0028) and A/A genotype (χ2 = 10.31, P < 0.001), with a lower frequency of the TNF‐α−308*A/A genotype (χ2 = 11.05, P < 0.01). Within the aspergillosis patients, CCPA is associated with lower frequency of the IL‐10 −1082*G allele (OR = 0.38, P = 0.0006) and G/G genotype (χ2 = 22.45, P < 0.001) and with a lower frequency of the TGF‐β1 +869 *T allele (OR +0.42, P < 0.0029) and T/T genotype (χ2 = 17.82, P < 0.001) compared with non‐CCPA patients and normal controls.Patients infected with Aspergillus appear to be higher producers of IL‐15, a Th2‐promoting cytokine, and lower producers of TNF‐α, a cytokine central in protective responses. CCPA occurs in patients who are genetically lower producers of both IL‐10 and TGF‐β1. As these cytokines are regulatory and anti‐inflammatory, CCPA may be a consequence of poor inflammatory response control in the lung.
Diet of Chinese skink,Eumeces chinensis: is prey size important?
Authors: CHEN Xiaolin , JIANG Yong 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe diet of the skink,Eumeces chinensis(Lacertilia: Scincidae), in Xiamen (Amoy), China was examined using stomach analysis during April and May, and its selection of prey size was tested by feeding trials. Insects (primarily Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Orthoptera), gastropods and arachnids constituted most of theE. chinensisdiet, but earthworms, leeches, crustaceans and fish were also consumed. In the field, male skinks ate more prey items that were 11–20 mm in length than other size classes. When presented with a choice of different‐sized prey in the laboratory, maleE. chinensisexhibited a strong preference for prey items 11–20 mm in length over other size classes. The relationship between prey size and handling time was exponential, indicating that there is an upper limit to the ability ofE. chinensisto process prey. Mean energy intake for handling different‐sized prey showed that selection of midsizeclass prey items would provide maleE. chinensiswith the most energy‐efficient prey option. These results indicate that prey size selection inE. chinensisfavors maximization of rates of energy intake, which is in agreement with optimal foraging theory.
Resumption of ovary activity and normal estrus cycles in postpartum cows after inclusion of placenta‐containing additives in the diet
Authors: VASILENKO Tatyana F. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractFood additives made of placenta tissues of healthy cattle, included in the diet of cows 23–38 days before calving and/or in different intervals of the postpartum period, stimulated the resumption of ovary activity and the manifestation of normal estrus cycles (with ovulation) in cows. The cow fertilization rates during 80 days after calving was 50–80%. These values increased more than twofold in comparison with the fertility level of cows fed a normal diet. The level of fertilization after inclusion of placenta‐containing additives in the diet of cows 5 days before ovulation, in estrus cycles that took place during 6 months after calving, increased 38 % on average, in comparison with that of cows fed a normal diet.
Origin of postcranial skeletal pneumaticity in dinosaurs
Authors: WEDEL Mathew J. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractThe sauropodomorph Thecodontosaurus caducus and theropod Coelophysis bauri are the earliest known dinosaurs with postcranial skeletal pneumaticity. In both taxa, postcranial pneumatic features are confined to the cervical vertebrae. This distribution of pneumaticity in the skeleton is most consistent with pneumatization by diverticula of cervical air sacs similar to those of birds. Other hypotheses, including pneumatization by diverticula of the lungs, larynx and trachea, or cranial air spaces, are less well‐supported.
Systems or species? Approaches to conservation for the 21st century
Authors: McNEELY Jeffrey A. 
Published: July 2006

AbstractOne of the hot debates in the conservation community is whether to focus on individual species (for example, through species recovery plans, or lists of threatened species) or on systems approaches (such as the ecosystem approach advocated by the Convention on Biological Diversity). This paper will discuss some of the various options, before reaching a conclusion that both approaches are valid and mutually reinforcing, and that the dichotomy is a false one. Perhaps more importantly, no conservation investment is likely to be effective if economic, social, and political factors are driving in the opposite direction. Instead, we need multiple approaches that build a stronger political constituency, new ways of providing knowledge for decisions, better ways of mobilizing information and dynamic approaches that enable us to adapt to changing conditions, and new ways to generate funding for conservation.
Predicting the long term course of low back pain and its consequences for sickness absence and associated work disability
Authors: Burdorf A , Jansen J P 
Published: July 2006

Background:Low back pain is characterised by a dynamic pattern of episodes and recovery but little is known about the long term course of back pain due to lack of cohort studies with sufficiently long follow up periods.Methods:A cohort of 523 workers in nursing homes and homes for the elderly was followed for two years. Physical load was measured by observations at the workplace. Psychosocial factors at work, individual characteristics, and low back pain were determined by questionnaire once a year. The effect of work load on low back pain and the transition of low back pain into sickness absence was calculated with logistic regression analysis. A Markov model was used to construct a hypothetical cohort of workers with follow up of 40 years (40 cycles of 1 year) with transitional probabilities between no complaints, low back pain, and sickness due to low back pain. Permanent disability was used as end state of health.Results:The transitional probability from no complaints to low back pain varied between p = 0.25 and p = 0.29, from low back pain to sickness absence between p = 0.09 and p = 0.25, and recurrence of sickness absence varied between p = 0.27 and p = 0.50, depending on the level of physical load. During a 40 year career, total sickness absence due to low back pain was approximately 140 weeks (6.6%) among workers with high physical load and about 30 weeks (1.4%) among those with low physical load.Conclusion:The Markov approach illustrated the potential impact of physical load on (permanent) disability due to low back pain among workers with exposure to physical load. These consequences may go unnoticed in cohort studies with follow up periods of a few years.
Ecological association between childhood asthma and availability of indoor chlorinated swimming pools in Europe
Authors: Nickmilder M , Bernard A 
Published: July 2006

Background:It has been hypothesised that the rise in childhood asthma in the developed world could result at least in part from the increasing exposure of children to toxic chlorination products in the air of indoor swimming pools.Objectives:Ecological study to evaluate whether this hypothesis can explain the geographical variation in the prevalence of asthma and other atopic diseases in Europe.Methods:The relationships between the prevalences of wheezing by written or video questionnaire, of ever asthma, hay fever, rhinitis, and atopic eczema as reported by the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC), and the number of indoor chlorinated swimming pools per inhabitant in the studied centres were examined. Associations with geoclimatic variables, the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, and several other lifestyle indicators were also evaluated.Results:Among children aged 13–14 years, the prevalence of wheezing by written questionnaire, of wheezing by video questionnaire, and of ever asthma across Europe increased respectively by 3.39% (95% CI 1.96 to 4.81), 0.96% (95% CI 0.28 to 1.64), and 2.73% (95% CI 1.94 to 3.52), with an increase of one indoor chlorinated pool per 100 000 inhabitants. Similar increases were found when analysing separately centres in Western or Northern Europe and for ever asthma in Southern Europe. In children aged 6–7 years (33 centres), the prevalence of ever asthma also increased with swimming pool availability (1.47%; 95% CI 0.21 to 2.74). These consistent associations were not found with other atopic diseases and were independent of the influence of altitude, climate, and GDP per capita.Conclusions:The prevalence of childhood asthma and availability of indoor swimming pools in Europe are linked through associations that are consistent with the hypothesis implicating pool chlorine in the rise of childhood asthma in industrialised countries.
Occupational risk factors for pancreatic cancer among female textile workers in Shanghai, China
Authors: Li W , Ray R M , Gao D L , Fitzgibbons E D , Seixas N S , Camp J E , Wernli K J , Astrakianakis G , Feng Z , Thomas D B , Checkoway H 
Published: July 2006

ObjectivesTo investigate whether occupational exposures to dusts and chemicals in the Shanghai textile industry are associated with risk of pancreatic cancer.MethodsA case cohort study nested in a cohort of 267 400 female textile workers in Shanghai, China was conducted among 180 incident pancreatic cancer cases and an age stratified randomly selected comparison subcohort (n = 3188). A complete occupational history of work in the textile industry was obtained for each woman, and was linked to a job exposure matrix developed for the textile industry to estimate exposures to specific dusts and chemicals. Cumulative exposures to cotton dust and endotoxin were reconstructed from historical and contemporaneous measurements.ResultsAfter adjusting for smoking status, a trend of decreasing risk of pancreatic cancer was observed for increasing cumulative exposures to cotton dust and endotoxin with a lag of 20 years. The hazard ratios for women cumulatively exposed to >143.4 mg/m3× years of cotton dust and >3530.6 EU/m3× years of endotoxin were 0.6 (95% CI 0.3 to 0.9) and 0.5 (95% CI 0.3 to 0.9), respectively, compared to unexposed women. There was little evidence that exposures to other textile dusts and chemicals were associated with risk of pancreatic cancer.ConclusionsOccupational exposure to cotton dust and endotoxin in the textile industry may have reduced risks of pancreatic cancer in this cohort. These associations should be replicated by others before making a firm conclusion of their possible effects on pancreatic cancer.
Retrospective mortality cohort study of Italian workers compensated for silicosis: Table 1
Authors: Marinaccio A , Scarselli A , Gorini G , Chellini E , Mastrantonio M , Uccelli R , Altavista P , Pirastu R , Merlo D F , Nesti M 
Published: July 2006

Objectives:To estimate cause specific mortality in a large cohort of Italian workers compensated for silicosis.Methods:The cohort included 14 929 subjects (14 098 men and 831 women) compensated for silicosis between 1946 and 1979, alive on 1 January 1980, and resident in Tuscany (a region of central Italy with 3 547 000 inhabitants). Mortality follow up ranged from 1980 to 1999. Vital status and the causes of death were determined by linkage with the regional mortality registry and with the national mortality database. The cohort mortality rates were compared to the rates of the local reference population. SMRs and their 95% confidence intervals were computed assuming a Poisson distribution of the observed deaths. Specific SMR analyses were performed according to the level of disability, the year of compensation assignment, and the job type.Results:A significant excess mortality was observed in male silicotics for cancer of the lung, trachea, and bronchus and cancer of the liver, respiratory diseases (silicosis, asbestosis, antracosilicosis, and other pneumoconiosis), and for tubercolosis. Statistically significant mortality excess was observed in female silicotics for respiratory diseases (specifically silicosis and other pneumoconiosis) and tuberculosis. Analyses for period of compensation assignment showed a twofold increased SMR for biliary tract cancer among female workers and for liver cancer among male workers compensated before 1970.Conclusions:The excess mortality from respiratory tract cancers and respiratory tract diseases detected in Italian compensated silicotics are in agreement with previous epidemiological studies. Although the twofold increased risk for liver cancer among males is suggestive of a possible association with silica dust exposure, the finding needs to be confirmed.
Inhibition of the Multidrug-Resistant Phenotype by Targeting YB-1 with a Conditionally Oncolytic Adenovirus: Implications for Combinatorial Treatment Regimen with Chemotherapeutic Agents
Authors: Mantwill Klaus , Köhler-Vargas Nadia , Bernshausen Alexandra , Bieler Alexa , Lage Hermann , Kaszubiak Alexander , Surowiak Pavel , Dravits Tanja , Treiber Uwe , Hartung Rudolf , Gansbacher Bernd , Holm Per S. 
Published: July 2006

Abstract
Bearing in mind the limited success of available treatment modalities for the therapy of multidrug-resistant tumor cells, alternative and complementary strategies need to be developed. It is known that the transcriptional activation of genes, such as MDR1 and MRP1, which play a major role in the development of a multidrug-resistant phenotype in tumor cells, involves the Y-box protein YB-1. Thus, YB-1 is a promising target for new therapeutic approaches to defeat multidrug resistance. In addition, it has been reported previously that YB-1 is an important factor in adenoviral replication because it activates transcription from the adenoviral E2-late promoter. Here, we report that an oncolytic adenovirus, named Xvir03, expressing the viral proteins E1B55k and E4orf6, leads to nuclear translocation of YB-1 and in consequence to viral replication and cell lysis in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we show that Xvir03 down-regulates the expression of MDR1 and MRP1, indicating that recruiting YB-1 to the adenoviral E2-late promoter for viral replication is responsible for this effect. Thus, nuclear translocation of YB-1 by Xvir03 leads to resensitization of tumor cells to cytotoxic drugs. These data reveal a link between chemotherapy and virotherapy based on the cellular transcription factor YB-1 and provide the basis for formulating a model for a novel combined therapy regimen named Mutually Synergistic Therapy. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(14): 7195-202)