bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ear Acupuncture for Alcohol Withdrawal in Comparison With Aromatherapy: A Randomized‐Controlled Trial
Authors: Kunz Stephanie , Schulz Michael , Lewitzky Miriam , Driessen Martin , Rau Harald 
Published: February 2007

Background: There is increasing clinical acceptance of acupuncture as a treatment of substance‐related disorders. Little is known about acupuncture as a treatment for the withdrawal syndrome in inpatient settings. We compared auricular needle acupuncture with aromatherapy in reducing the duration and severity of symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.Methods: Inpatients undergoing alcohol withdrawal were randomly allocated to needle acupuncture (n=55) and aromatherapy (n=54). Both therapies were applied daily during the first 5 consecutive treatment days. The rating scale for the assessment of the alcohol‐withdrawal syndrome (AWS scale) served as the main dependent variable and was applied daily during the first 5 days of the withdrawal. Further measures included a subjective visual analog scale of craving and the Self Assessment Manikin (SAM).Results: Thirty‐six of the 55 patients who received acupuncture, and 38 of the 54 patients who received aromatherapy, finished the study regularly. The groups differed in their initial self‐reported arousal, which then served as a covariate in the further analyses. Neither the extent of craving nor of withdrawal symptoms differed between groups over the observation period. Self‐rated arousal decreased in response to both treatments from days 1 to 2 (p<0.001) and within single days (p<0.001), and we found a significant interaction between pretreatment versus posttreatment and days (p<0.001). Interactions including between‐subjects effects and intervention did not achieve the significance level.Conclusion: The results do not support the assumption of a superiority of acupuncture over the control therapy in its specific effects on alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Assessment of childhood allergy for the primary care practitioner
Authors: Dowdee April , Ossege Julie 
Published: February 2007

AbstractPurpose: To update the primary care practitioner on the assessment of common childhood allergic illnesses.Data sources: Relevant scientific literature and published clinical practice guidelines.Conclusions: Atopic children often develop symptoms that occur in a predictable progression from atopic dermatitis to gastrointestinal disturbances, chronic serous otitis media, rhinitis, and asthma. Evaluation of allergic symptoms should be based on their chronicity, family history of atopy, and knowledge of how the information will change patient management. Both skin and blood testing are accurate and useful tools in establishing a diagnosis of allergic disease. Management includes avoidance/environmental control, medications, and, when necessary, referral to specialists.Implications for practice: As the incidence of allergic disease increases, the human and monetary costs associated with allergies place a major burden on our healthcare system. Early identification of allergies and appropriate intervention are important to prevent progression to more significant disease. The use of objective diagnostic testing aids in implementing appropriate evidence‐based medical management.
Transcatheter embolisation of patent ductus arteriosus using an Amplatzer vascular plug in six dogs
Authors: Smith P. J. , Martin M. W. S. 
Published: February 2007

Objectives:The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of transcatheter embolisation of a patent ductus arteriosus using an Amplatzer vascular plug (Amplatzer Medical UK) in six dogs.Methods:The Amplatzer vascular plug is a self‐expandable, cylindrical device attached to a delivery cable. In all the dogs, the device was delivered transvenously. Successful device implantation was defined as firm anchorage of the device squarely within the distal part of the ductus arteriosus with no intra‐ or postoperative dislodgement. Successful occlusion of the ductus arteriosus occurred if a disappearance of the continuous murmur was achieved 24 hours after placement of the Amplatzer vascular plug.Results:The age of the dogs ranged from 16 weeks to 7·5 years. Their weights ranged from 2·9 to 27·6 kg (median 6 kg). Two dogs had congestive heart failure before embolisation. Successful device implantation was achieved in all dogs. Successful occlusion of the ductus arteriosus was achieved in four of the six dogs. Complications included mild lameness, residual shunting, and bruising and pruritus around the surgical wound site. At follow‐up, two dogs had a continuous murmur and one required treatment for congestive heart failure.ClinicalSignificance:This technique may represent a clinically effective and less expensive alternative to the use of an Amplatzer duct occluder (Amplatzer Medical UK) in dogs with medium‐sized patent ductus arteriosus. Further investigations are required to fully evaluate its efficacy and safety in various sizes and types of patent ductus arteriosus, and to determine the optimal device size in relation to the size of the ductus.
Prospective study of zonisamide therapy for refractory idiopathic epilepsy in dogs
Authors: Von Klopmann T. , Rambeck B. , Tipold A. 
Published: February 2007

Objectives: Investigation of the efficacy of zonisamide as an add‐on therapy in dogs with refractory epilepsy. Methods: Thirteen dogs fulfilled the inclusion criteria of poor seizure control despite adequate serum levels of phenobarbital, potassium bromide or both. One further dog was treated with zonisamide as monotherapy because of severe blood dyscrasia due to phenobarbital treatment. Various seizure parameters were evaluated retrospectively for a four month period without zonisamide and prospectively for the same time period under zonisamide add‐on therapy. The study time period was extended by up to 17 months to evaluate long‐term outcome. Results: Data of 11 dogs could be evaluated: nine of them were responders. The median reduction of seizure frequency of all dogs on zonisamide add‐on therapy was 70 per cent (range 14 to 100 per cent). Only transient central nervous system side effects were reported. No further increase of liver enzymes occurred. In three of the responder dogs, seizure control subsided after individual time periods (between 69 days and seven months). Clinical Significance: In dogs with refractory epilepsy, zonisamide may have a beneficial effect on seizure control. In three responder dogs, seizure activity relapsed possibly because of an induction of tolerance. Limiting factors are the high costs.
China's State Security in a Time of Peaceful Development: A New Issue on Research Agenda
Authors: Wang Yizhou 
Published: February 2007

AbstractThis paper holds that China's national security during its peaceful rise is a new issue on the research agenda, which requires new counter‐measures and collective wisdom. The paper discusses five of China's objectives in addressing national security; namely, from highest to lowest priority, friction among big powers, the Taiwan issue, disputes over sovereignty, protection of interests overseas, and undertaking international responsibilities. Systematically achieving these objectives is of major importance for building up national defence and China's international image. China's state security in the current period of peaceful development is a new issue on the research agendum, for politicians, the military, scholars and researchers alike. Extensive and in‐depth discussion is needed. Global security commitments made by a big power might conflict with its own security interests and objectives. Judging by any standard, China's tasks are heavy and the road ahead is long.(Edited by Xinyu Fan)
Compartmental Pharmacokinetic Analysis of Oral Amprenavir with Secondary Peaks
Authors: Okusanya Olanrewaju , Forrest Alan , DiFrancesco Robin , Bilic Sanela , Rosenkranz Susan , Para Michael F. , Adams Elizabeth , Yarasheski Kevin E. , Reichman Richard C. , Morse Gene D. 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTAmprenavir is a protease inhibitor that has been shown to have secondary peaks postulated to be due to enterohepatic recycling. We propose a model to describe the pharmacokinetics of amprenavir which accommodates the secondary peak(s). A total of 82 healthy human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seronegative subjects were administered a single 600-mg dose of amprenavir as part of adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group protocol A5043. Serial blood samples were obtained over 24 h. Samples were analyzed for amprenavir and fit to a compartmental model using ADAPT II software, with all relevant parameters conditional with respect to bioavailability. The model accommodated secondary peaks by incorporating clearance out of the central compartment with delayed instantaneous release back into the gut compartment. The data were weighted by the inverse of the estimated measurement error variance; model discrimination was determined using Akaike's Information Criteria. A total of 76 subjects were evaluable in the study analysis. The data were best fit by a two-compartment model, with 98.7% of the subjects demonstrating a secondary peak. Amprenavir had a mean total clearance of 1.163 liters/h/kg of body weight (0.7), a central volume of distribution of 1.208 liters/kg (0.8), a peripheral volume of distribution of 8.2 liters/kg (0.81), and distributional clearance of 0.04 liters/h/kg (0.81). The time to the secondary peak was 7.86 h (0.17), and clearance into a recycling compartment was 0.111 liters/kg/h (0.74). Amprenavir pharmacokinetics has been well described using a two-compartment model with clearance to a recycling compartment and release back into the gut. The nature of the secondary peaks may be an important consideration for the interpretation of amprenavir plasma concentrations during therapeutic drug monitoring.
Fluoroquinolone Resistance in
Haemophilus influenzae
Is Associated with Hypermutability
Authors: Pérez-Vázquez María , Román Federico , García-Cobos Silvia , Campos José 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT

Forty-three percent (12/28) of ciprofloxacin (CIP)-nonsusceptible respiratory isolates of
Haemophilus influenzae
were hypermutable, compared with 8.5% (3/35) in the CIP-susceptible control group (
P
= 0.002). CIP-nonsusceptible mutants were obtained with hypermutable strains only; these mutants developed three resistance mechanisms in a step-by-step process: target modifications, loss of a porin protein, and increased efflux.
Screening of an Antigen Target for Immunocontraceptives from Cross-Reactive Antigens between Human Sperm andUreaplasma urealyticum
Authors: Shi Jianli , Yang Zhengmin , Wang Min , Cheng Guoyan , Li Ding , Wang Yifei , Zhou Yuancong , Liu Xiaolong , Xu Chen 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACTEpidemiologic studies indicated that some infertile men who were infected withUreaplasma urealyticumdisplayed positive antisperm antibodies in their serum and/or semen. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible mechanism of antisperm antibodies production after infection withU. urealyticumand to analyze the relationship betweenU. urealyticumand infertility. The existence of cross-reactive antigens (61, 50, and 25 kDa) betweenU. urealyticumand human sperm membrane proteins was confirmed. Among the cross-reactive antigens, the urease complex component UreG ofU. urealyticumwas determined. By searching the Swiss-Prot protein database, a pentapeptide identity (IERLT) between UreG and human nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein (NASP) was found. Furthermore, using Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the cross-reaction between the NASP and UreG was verified. Both anti-rUreG antibody and the antiserum against the synthetic peptide NASP393-408 containing the pentapeptide inhibited mouse sperm egg binding and fusion. After immunization by rUreG or the synthetic peptide, 81.2 and 75% female mice became sterile, respectively. The effect on fertility in mice immunized with the synthetic peptide was reversible. These findings proved for the first time that it was feasible to screen antigens for immunocontraceptives from cross-reactive antigens between sperm and microorganisms which induce infertility.
The Genome of Non-O1
Vibrio cholerae
NRT36S Demonstrates the Presence of Pathogenic Mechanisms That Are Distinct from Those of O1
Vibrio cholerae
Authors: Chen Yuansha , Johnson Judith A. , Pusch Gordon D. , Morris J. Glenn , Stine O. Colin 
Published: February 2007

ABSTRACT

Vibrio cholerae
NRT36S is a non-cholera toxin-producing, non-O1 strain that causes diarrhea in volunteers. The genome of NRT36S was sequenced to create a draft containing 174 contigs plus the superintegron region. Our analysis of the draft genome revealed several putative toxin genes and colonization factors. Besides confirming the existence of nonagglutinable heat-stable toxin, we also identified the genes for a type three secretion system, a putative exotoxin, two different RTX toxins, and four pilus systems.
Blind Identification of FIR Channels in the Presence of Unknown Noise
Authors: He Xiaojuan , Wong Kon Max 
Published: February 2007

AbstractBlind channel identification techniques based on second-order statistics (SOS) of the received data have been a topic of active research in recent years. Among the most popular is the subspace method (SS) proposed by Moulines et al. (1995). It has good performance when the channel output is corrupted by white noise. However, when the channel noise is correlated and unknown as is often encountered in practice, the performance of the SS method degrades severely. In this paper, we address the problem of estimating FIR channels in the presence of arbitrarily correlated noise whose covariance matrix is unknown. We propose several algorithms according to the different available system resources: (1) when only one receiving antenna is available, by upsampling the output, we develop the maximum a posteriori (MAP) algorithm for which a simple criterion is obtained and an efficient implementation algorithm is developed; (2) when two receiving antennae are available, by upsampling both the outputs and utilizing canonical correlation decomposition (CCD) to obtain the subspaces, we present two algorithms (CCD-SS and CCD-ML) to blindly estimate the channels. Our algorithms perform well in unknown noise environment and outperform existing methods proposed for similar scenarios.
Block Iterative Methods for a Finite Family of Relatively Nonexpansive Mappings in Banach Spaces
Authors: Kohsaka Fumiaki , Takahashi Wataru 
Published: February 2007

AbstractUsing the convex combination based on Bregman distances due to Censor and Reich, we define an operator from a given family of relatively nonexpansive mappings in a Banach space. We first prove that the fixed-point set of this operator is identical to the set of all common fixed points of the mappings. Next, using this operator, we construct an iterative sequence to approximate common fixed points of the family. We finally apply our results to a convex feasibility problem in Banach spaces.
An Iteration Method for Nonexpansive Mappings in Hilbert Spaces
Authors: Wang Lin 
Published: February 2007

AbstractIn real Hilbert space "Equation missing", from an arbitrary initial point "Equation missing", an explicit iteration scheme is defined as follows: "Equation missing", where "Equation missing", "Equation missing" is a nonexpansive mapping such that "Equation missing" is nonempty, "Equation missing" is a "Equation missing"-strongly monotone and "Equation missing"-Lipschitzian mapping, "Equation missing", and "Equation missing". Under some suitable conditions, the sequence "Equation missing" is shown to converge strongly to a fixed point of "Equation missing" and the necessary and sufficient conditions that "Equation missing" converges strongly to a fixed point of "Equation missing" are obtained.
Inhibition of Fatty Acid Synthase Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Tumor Cells
Authors: Little Joy L. , Wheeler Frances B. , Fels Diane R. , Koumenis Constantinos , Kridel Steven J. 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
Fatty acid synthase (FAS), the cellular enzyme that synthesizes palmitate, is expressed at high levels in tumor cells and is vital for their survival. Through the synthesis of palmitate, FAS primarily drives the synthesis of phospholipids in tumor cells. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the FAS inhibitors induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in tumor cells. Treatment of tumor cells with FAS inhibitors induces robust PERK-dependent phosphorylation of the translation initiation factor eIF2α and concomitant inhibition of protein synthesis. PERK-deficient transformed mouse embryonic fibroblasts and HT-29 colon carcinoma cells that express a dominant negative PERK (ΔC-PERK) are hypersensitive to FAS inhibitor–induced cell death. Pharmacologic inhibition of FAS also induces the processing of X-box binding protein-1, indicating that the IRE1 arm of the ER stress response is activated when FAS is inhibited. Induction of ER stress is further confirmed by the increased expression of the ER stress–regulated genes CHOP, ATF4, and GRP78. FAS inhibitor–induced ER stress is activated prior to the detection of caspase 3 and PARP cleavage, primary indicators of cell death, whereas orlistat-induced cell death is rescued by coincubation with the global translation inhibitor cycloheximide. Lastly, FAS inhibitors cooperate with the ER stress inducer thapsigargin to enhance tumor cell killing. These results provide the first evidence that FAS inhibitors induce ER stress and establish an important mechanistic link between FAS activity and ER function. [Cancer Res 2007;67(3):1262–9]
Identification of Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Li Chenwei , Heidt David G. , Dalerba Piero , Burant Charles F. , Zhang Lanjing , Adsay Volkan , Wicha Max , Clarke Michael F. , Simeone Diane M. 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
Emerging evidence has suggested that the capability of a tumor to grow and propagate is dependent on a small subset of cells within a tumor, termed cancer stem cells. Although data have been provided to support this theory in human blood, brain, and breast cancers, the identity of pancreatic cancer stem cells has not been determined. Using a xenograft model in which primary human pancreatic adenocarcinomas were grown in immunocompromised mice, we identified a highly tumorigenic subpopulation of pancreatic cancer cells expressing the cell surface markers CD44, CD24, and epithelial-specific antigen (ESA). Pancreatic cancer cells with the CD44+CD24+ESA+ phenotype (0.2–0.8% of pancreatic cancer cells) had a 100-fold increased tumorigenic potential compared with nontumorigenic cancer cells, with 50% of animals injected with as few as 100 CD44+CD24+ESA+ cells forming tumors that were histologically indistinguishable from the human tumors from which they originated. The enhanced ability of CD44+CD24+ESA+ pancreatic cancer cells to form tumors was confirmed in an orthotopic pancreatic tail injection model. The CD44+CD24+ESA+ pancreatic cancer cells showed the stem cell properties of self-renewal, the ability to produce differentiated progeny, and increased expression of the developmental signaling molecule sonic hedgehog. Identification of pancreatic cancer stem cells and further elucidation of the signaling pathways that regulate their growth and survival may provide novel therapeutic approaches to treat pancreatic cancer, which is notoriously resistant to standard chemotherapy and radiation. [Cancer Res 2007;67(3):1030–7]
Changes in DNA Methylation Patterns in Subjects Exposed to Low-Dose Benzene
Authors: Bollati Valentina , Baccarelli Andrea , Hou Lifang , Bonzini Matteo , Fustinoni Silvia , Cavallo Domenico , Byun Hyang-Min , Jiang Jiayi , Marinelli Barbara , Pesatori Angela C. , Bertazzi Pier A. , Yang Allen S. 
Published: February 2007

Abstract
Aberrant DNA methylation patterns, including global hypomethylation, gene-specific hypermethylation/hypomethylation, and loss of imprinting (LOI), are common in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and other cancer tissues. We investigated for the first time whether such epigenetic changes are induced in healthy subjects by low-level exposure to benzene, a widespread pollutant associated with AML risk. Blood DNA samples and exposure data were obtained from subjects with different levels of benzene exposure, including 78 gas station attendants, 77 traffic police officers, and 58 unexposed referents in Milan, Italy (personal airborne benzene range, &lt;6–478 μg/m3). Bisulfite-PCR pyrosequencing was used to quantitate DNA methylation in long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1) and AluI repetitive elements as a surrogate of genome-wide methylation and examine gene-specific methylation of MAGE-1 and p15. Allele-specific pyrosequencing of the H19 gene was used to detect LOI in 96 subjects heterozygous for the H19 imprinting center G/A single-nucleotide polymorphism. Airborne benzene was associated with a significant reduction in LINE-1 (−2.33% for a 10-fold increase in airborne benzene levels; P = 0.009) and AluI (−1.00%; P = 0.027) methylation. Hypermethylation in p15 (+0.35%; P = 0.018) and hypomethylation in MAGE-1 (−0.49%; P = 0.049) were associated with increasing airborne benzene levels. LOI was found only in exposed subjects (4 of 73, 5.5%) and not in referents (0 of 23, 0.0%). However, LOI was not significantly associated with airborne benzene (P &gt; 0.20). This is the first human study to link altered DNA methylation, reproducing the aberrant epigenetic patterns found in malignant cells, to low-level carcinogen exposure. [Cancer Res 2007;67(3):876–80]
In vivoEffects of Vaccination with Six-Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate: A Candidate Antigen for Treating Prostate Cancer
Authors: Garcia-Hernandez Maria de la Luz , Gray Andrew , Hubby Bolyn , Kast W. Martin 
Published: February 2007

AbstractImmunotherapy may provide an alternative treatment for cancer patients, especially when tumors overexpress antigens that can be recognized by immune cells. The identification of markers and therapeutic targets that are up-regulated in prostate cancer has been important to design new potential treatments for prostate cancer. Among them, the recently identified six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of the prostate (STEAP) is considered attractive due to its overexpression in human prostate cancer tissues. Our study constitutes the first assessment of the in vivo effectiveness of STEAP-based vaccination in prophylactic and therapeutic mouse models. Two delivery systems, cDNA delivered by gene gun and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus-like replicon particles (VRP), both encoding mouse STEAP (mSTEAP) and three vaccination strategies were used. Our results show that mSTEAP-based vaccination was able to induce a specific CD8 T-cell response against a newly defined mSTEAP epitope that prolonged the overall survival rate in tumor-challenged mice very significantly. This was achieved without any development of autoimmunity. Surprisingly, CD4 T cells that produced IFNγ, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-2 (IL-2) played the main role in tumor rejection in our model as shown by using CD4- and CD8-deficient mice. In addition, the presence of high IL-12 levels in the tumor environment was associated with a favorable antitumor response. Finally, the therapeutic effect of STEAP vaccination was also assessed and induced a modest but significant delay in growth of established, 31 day old tumors. Taken together, our data suggest that vaccination against mSTEAP is a viable option to delay tumor growth. [Cancer Res 2007;67(3):1344–51]