bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
TRUST, RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Authors: Pellizzoni Luigi 
Published: December 2005

ABSTRACT
The article argues that the crisis of legitimacy of environmental policy is closely connected with its declining effectiveness and efficiency in front of the growing saliency of uncertainty. Trust and responsibility are relevant analytical dimensions for addressing this issue. Contrary to the former, the latter has been poorly explored in its applications to policy issues. To this purpose a typology is presented, which helps to understand the evolutionary logic and current weakness of environmental policy. Theoretical reflection is supported by a study on public views of food safety. Trust and responsibility confirm their relevance. Opinions about the different actors involved in the food chain and the regulatory and control systems are contradictory, while attempts to provide trust with solid grounds are confronted with attitudes of mistrust, suspicion and resignation. Overall, citizens’ concerns remain largely unanswered. This indicates that institutional and corporate unresponsiveness represents a major issue, negatively affecting the social legitimation of food policy.
Expression of Bcl‐x in normal skin and benign cutaneous adnexal tumors*
Authors: Thamboo Thomas P. , Tan Leonard H.‐C. , Tan Soo‐Yong 
Published: December 2005

Background:  Bcl‐x appears to have an antiapoptotic role in the epidermis. Little is known about the expression of Bcl‐x in cutaneous adnexal structures and benign cutaneous adnexal tumors.Methods:  Tissues from 31 cases of benign cutaneous adnexal tumors (five trichofolliculomas, five trichoepitheliomas, two sebaceous adenomas, five apocrine hidradenomas, five eccrine poromas, five eccrine spiradenomas, and four syringomas) were immunostained for Bcl‐x.Results:  Strong staining for Bcl‐x was seen in cells of the epidermal granular layer and inner root sheath of hair follicles. Sebaceous gland cells showed strong staining. Apocrine gland cells showed weak to moderate staining. No staining was seen in eccrine gland cells. The basaloid cells of trichofolliculomas and trichoepitheliomas showed no staining. In sebaceous adenomas, the sebaceous cells showed strong staining while the basaloid cells were negative. The cells of apocrine hidradenomas showed patchy weak staining. No staining was seen in eccrine poromas, eccrine spiradenomas, and syringomas.Conclusions:  The degree of Bcl‐x expression in cutaneous adnexal glandular structures appears to be related to their mode of secretion, being strongest in cells with apoptotic degradation of the entire cell (sebocytes). This pattern is recapitulated in the corresponding benign cutaneous adnexal tumors. Bcl‐x may be useful in identifying cells with sebaceous differentiation in poorly differentiated adnexal tumors.
Review article: proton pump inhibitors and bacterial overgrowth
Authors: WILLIAMS C. , McCOLL K. E. L. 
Published: December 2005

SummaryProton pump inhibitors are potent drugs producing profound suppression of gastric acid secretion. Consequently, they are highly effective at treating acid‐related disorders.There have been concerns that the suppression of gastric acid will alter the bacterial flora of the upper gastrointestinal tract and lead to complications such as cancer, enteric or other infections and malabsorption.Studies have confirmed that proton pump inhibitors do alter the bacterial population but present evidence indicates that this only rarely leads to clinical disease.As with all drugs, proton pump inhibitors should only be used for disorders shown clearly to benefit from the therapy and where the benefits will outweigh the small risks associated with them. Further research to more fully quantify the risk associated with PPI therapy is required.
Risk of schizophrenia in people with coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease: a general population‐based study
Authors: WEST J. , LOGAN R. F. , HUBBARD R. B. , CARD T. R. 
Published: December 2005

SummaryBackgroundRecently, interest has been revived in whether people with coeliac disease, in contrast to other inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases, have an increased risk of schizophrenia.AimTo compare the risk of schizophrenia in people diagnosed with coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease with the general population.MethodsWe used data from the UK General Practice Research Database. People with coeliac disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis were matched individually with five age‐, sex‐ and general practice‐matched controls. The prevalence of schizophrenia was calculated and compared between disease groups and their respective controls. We calculated odds ratios for schizophrenia using conditional logistic regression adjusting for smoking status.ResultsIn people with coeliac disease, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis the prevalence of schizophrenia was 0.25%, 0.27% and 0.24%, respectively, compared with a general population prevalence of 0.37%. The adjusted odds ratios showed no association between schizophrenia and gastrointestinal disease (coeliac disease vs. controls 0.76, 95% CI: 0.41–1.4; Crohn's disease vs. controls 0.74, 95% CI: 0.44–1.3; ulcerative colitis 0.71, 95% CI: 0.44–1.1).Conclusions Contrary to recent findings we found no evidence of an increased risk of schizophrenia in people with coeliac disease compared with the general population.
A partially overlapping treatment course with lamivudine and interferon in hepatitis B e antigen‐negative chronic hepatitis B
Authors: MANESIS E. K. , PAPATHEODORIDIS G. V. , HADZIYANNIS S. J. 
Published: December 2005

SummaryBackgroundTreatment of patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐negative chronic hepatitis B (CHBe‐) with interferon or lamivudine alone is inefficient and reports of combination treatment with both drugs, equivocal so far.AimTo investigate the efficacy of a lamivudine–interferon combination therapy in 36 patients HBeAg‐negative CHBe−.MethodsLamivudine was administered from 1 to 12 months and interferon‐α2b from 7 to 18 months. A historical control group of 36 CHBe− patients, matched for age and sex and treated with the same dosage of interferon‐α2b was used. All patients were followed up for ≥12‐month post‐treatment.ResultsThe biochemical response rate at the end of treatment was 78% in lamivudine–interferon and 52.8% in interferon–control group (P = 0.026) and at 12‐month post‐treatment 38.9% and 22.2%, respectively (P = 0.125). Alanine aminotransferase normalization and serum HBV‐DNA levels ≤30 000 cp/mL were observed in 50.0% of lamivudine–interferon‐treated and 30.6% of interferon‐treated patients at the end of treatment (P =0.093) and in 22.2% and 13.9% of patients, respectively, at 12‐month post‐treatment (P = 0.358). Moreover, alanine aminotransferase normalization and undetectable serum HBV‐DNA (<400 cp/mL) was observed in 30.6% of lamivudine–interferon‐treated and 8.3% of interferon‐treated patients at the end of treatment (P = 0.017) and in 8.3% and 0% of patients, respectively, at 12‐month post‐treatment (P = 0.076).ConclusionsIn CHBe−, 12 months after ending a lamivudine–interferon partially overlapping 18‐month combination course, 22% of patients still maintain normal alanine aminotransferase and HBV‐DNA levels ≤30 000 cp/mL. However, a 12‐month interferon monotherapy course may achieve similar responses.
Population pharmacokinetic modelling of gentamicin and vancomycin in patients with unstable renal function following cardiothoracic surgery
Authors: Staatz Christine E. , Byrne Colette , Thomson Alison H. 
Published: December 2005

AimsTo describe the population pharmacokinetics of gentamicin and vancomycin in cardiothoracic surgery patients with unstable renal function.MethodsData collected during routine care were analyzed using NONMEM. Linear relationships between creatinine clearance (CLCr) and drug clearance (CL) were identified, and two approaches to modelling changing CLCr were examined. The first included baseline (BCOV) and difference from baseline (DCOV) effects and the second allowed the influence of CLCr to vary between individuals. Final model predictive performance was evaluated using independent data. The data sets were then combined and parameters re‐estimated.ResultsModel building was performed using data from 96 (gentamicin) and 102 (vancomycin) patients, aged 17–87 years. CLCr ranged from 9 to 172 ml min−1 and changes varied from −76 to 58 ml min−1 (gentamicin) and −86 to 93 ml min−1 (vancomycin). Inclusion of BCOV and DCOV improved the fit of the gentamicin data but had little effect on that for vancomycin. Inclusion of interindividual variability (IIV) in the influence of CLcr resulted in a poorly characterized model for gentamicin and had no effect on vancomycin modelling. No bias was seen in population compared with individual CL estimates in independent data from 39 (gentamicin) and 37 (vancomycin) patients. Mean (95% CI) differences were 4% (−3, 11%) and 2% (−2, 6%), respectively. Final estimates were: CLGent (l h−1) = 2.81 × (1 + 0.015 × (BCOVCLCr‐BCOVCLCr Median) + 0.0174 × DCOVCLCr); CLVanc (l h−1) = 2.97 × (1 + 0.0205 ×  (CLCr‐CLCr Median)). IIV in CL was 27% for both drugs.ConclusionsA parameter describing individual changes in CLcr with time improves population pharmacokinetic modelling of gentamicin but not vancomycin in clinically unstable patients.
Consumer perceptions of food‐related risks
Authors: Tucker Mark , Whaley Sherrie R. , Sharp Jeff S. 
Published: December 2005

SummaryRecent research indicates that the majority of respondents in nineteen of thirty‐four countries feel their food is less safe than 10 years ago. Concerns over food safety may result in elevated levels of perceived risk, particularly when fuelled by intense media coverage. The purpose of this study was to assess Ohioans’ perceptions of various food safety risks and to identify factors influencing risk judgments. Mail survey data are reported for 4014 respondents with a total response rate of 56%. Findings reveal moderate perceived levels of risk for the food safety items assessed. Pesticide residues in food and contamination of drinking water generated the highest levels of perceived risk, while mad cow disease and genetically modified foods generated the lowest levels of perceived risk. Regression results indicate that attitude toward biotechnology was the strongest predictor of perceived risk, followed by perceptions of media system dependency. Findings from this research can assist food safety specialists in developing more effective education and risk communication programmes for target audiences.
The effect of binary cosolvent systems (glycerol–sucrose mixtures) on the heat‐induced gelation mechanism of bovine serum albumin
Authors: Baier Stefan K. , Julian McClements David 
Published: December 2005

SummaryThe influence of cosolvent composition on the thermal denaturation and gelation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) has been studied. Cosolvent composition was varied by changing the ratio of glycerol to sucrose in 40 wt% cosolvent solutions containing BSA. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements on 0.5 wt% BSA solutions showed that the thermal denaturation temperature of the protein increased with increasing sucrose content. Temperature scanning dynamic shear rheology and turbidity measurements on 4 wt% BSA solutions showed that the gelation temperature and final gel strength increased with increasing sucrose concentration. These observations were attributed to the fact that sucrose was more effective than glycerol at increasing the thermal stability and attraction between globular BSA molecules through a steric exclusion effect. The molecular origin of these effects is the tendency for the system to minimize the contact area of the protein molecules with the surrounding cosolvent solution.
Effectiveness of ozone for inactivation of Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus in pistachios
Authors: Akbas Meltem Yesilcimen , Ozdemir Murat 
Published: December 2005

SummaryThe effectiveness of ozone for the decontamination of Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus in kernels, shelled and ground pistachios was investigated. Pistachios were inoculated with known concentrations of E. coli and B. cereus. Pistachio samples were exposed to gaseous ozone in a chamber at three different concentrations (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 ppm) for various times (0–360 min) at 20 °C and 70% relative humidity. The effectiveness of ozone against E. coli and B. cereus increased with increasing exposure time and ozone concentration. The physico‐chemical properties including: pH, free fatty acids and peroxide values, colour and fatty acid composition of pistachios did not change significantly after the ozonation treatments, except for the peroxide value of ground pistachios ozonized at 1.0 ppm for 360 min. Ozone concentration of 1.0 ppm was effective in reducing E. coli and B. cereus counts in kernels and shelled pistachios, while ozone concentrations <1.0 ppm were found to be appropriate in reducing the number of both bacteria in ground pistachios without having any change in their physico‐chemical properties.
Potential uses and applications of treated wine waste: a review
Authors: Arvanitoyannis Ioannis S. , Ladas Demetrios , Mavromatis Athanasios 
Published: December 2005

SummaryRecently, there has been an upsurge in the exploitation of the waste materials generated by the wine industry. Wine waste is characterised by the presence of natural antioxidants much safer than synthetic antioxidants. Wine waste‐derived antioxidants have been recently used in the food industry. Moreover, wine waste can be potentially used as soil conditioner, as adsorbent for heavy metals, for fertiliser and for pullulan production. This review aims at presenting the most important and economically viable applications of treated wine waste.
Role of the spacer between the −35 and −10 regions in σs promoter selectivity in Escherichia coli
Authors: Typas Athanasios , Hengge Regine 
Published: December 2005

Summary In vitro, the σs subunit of RNA polymerase (RNAP), RpoS, recognizes nearly identical −35 and −10 promoter consensus sequences as the vegetative σ70. In vivo, promoter selectivity of RNAP holoenzyme containing either σs (Eσs) or σ70 (Eσ70) seems to be achieved by the differential ability of the two holoenzymes to tolerate deviations from the promoter consensus sequence. In this study, we suggest that many natural σs‐dependent promoters possess a −35 element, a feature that has been considered as not conserved among σs‐dependent promoters. These −35 hexamers are mostly non‐optimally spaced from the −10 region, but nevertheless functional. A ± 2 bp deviation from the optimal spacer length of 17 bp or the complete absence of a −35 consensus sequence decreases overall promoter activity, but at the same time favours Eσs in its competition with Eσ70 for promoter recognition. On the other hand, the reduction of promoter activity due to shifting of the −35 element can be counterbalanced by an activity‐stimulating feature such as A/T‐richness of the spacer region without compromising Eσs selectivity. Based on mutational analysis of σs, we suggest a role of regions 2.5 and 4 of σs in sensing sub‐optimally located −35 elements.
A characterization of DNA release in Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultures and biofilms
Authors: Allesen‐Holm Marie , Barken Kim Bundvig , Yang Liang , Klausen Mikkel , Webb Jeremy S. , Kjelleberg Staffan , Molin Søren , Givskov Michael , Tolker‐Nielsen Tim 
Published: December 2005

Summary Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces extracellular DNA which functions as a cell‐to‐cell interconnecting matrix component in biofilms. Comparison of extracellular DNA and chromosomal DNA by the use of polymerase chain reaction and Southern analysis suggested that the extracellular DNA is similar to whole‐genome DNA. Evidence that the extracellular DNA in P. aeruginosa biofilms and cultures is generated via lysis of a subpopulation of the bacteria was obtained through experiments where extracellular β‐galactosidase released from lacZ‐containing P. aeruginosa strains was assessed. Experiments with the wild type and lasIrhlI, pqsA, pqsL and fliMpilA mutants indicated that the extracellular DNA is generated via a mechanism which is dependent on acyl homoserine lactone and Pseudomonas quinolone signalling, as well as on flagella and type IV pili. Microscopic investigation of flow chamber‐grown wild‐type P. aeruginosa biofilms stained with different DNA stains suggested that the extracellular DNA is located primarily in the stalks of mushroom‐shaped multicellular structures, with a high concentration especially in the outer part of the stalks forming a border between the stalk‐forming bacteria and the cap‐forming bacteria. Biofilms formed by lasIrhlI, pqsA and fliMpilA mutants contained less extracellular DNA than biofilms formed by the wild type, and the mutant biofilms were more susceptible to treatment with sodium dodecyl sulphate than the wild‐type biofilm.
Minimal requirements for oxygen sensing by the aerotaxis receptor Aer
Authors: Watts Kylie J. , Johnson Mark S. , Taylor Barry L. 
Published: December 2005

SummaryThe PAS and HAMP domain superfamilies are signal transduction modules found in all kingdoms of life. The Aer receptor, which contains both domains, initiates rapid behavioural responses to oxygen (aerotaxis) and other electron acceptors, guiding Escherichia coli to niches where it can generate optimal cellular energy. We used intragenic complementation to investigate the signal transduction pathway from the Aer PAS domain to the signalling domain. These studies showed that the HAMP domain of one monomer in the Aer dimer stabilized FAD binding to the PAS domain of the cognate monomer. In contrast, the signal transduction pathway was intra‐subunit, involving the PAS and signalling domains from the same monomer. The minimal requirements for signalling were investigated in heterodimers containing a full‐length and truncated monomer. Either the PAS or signalling domains could be deleted from the non‐signalling subunit of the heterodimer, but removing 16 residues from the C‐terminus of the signalling subunit abolished aerotaxis. Although both HAMP domains were required for aerotaxis, signalling was not disrupted by missense mutations in the HAMP domain from the signalling subunit. Possible models for Aer signal transduction are compared.
Prospective randomized control trial of isoniazid chemoprophylaxis during renal replacement therapy
Authors: Vikrant S. , Agarwal S.K. , Gupta S. , Bhowmik D. , Tiwari S.C. , Dash S.C. , Guleria S. , Mehta S.N. 
Published: December 2005

Abstract:Background.Infectious diseases remain among the major morbid events in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) on renal replacement therapy (RRT). In developing countries, tuberculosis (TB) has been found to occur more frequently in these patients than in the general population. Efficacy of isoniazid (INH) chemoprophylaxis has been seen in other situations, such as human immunodeficiency virus infection. However, studies on INH prophylaxis in ESRD patients on RRT are limited.Methods.In this prospective randomized controlled trial, from April 2000 to June 2001, a total of 109 ESRD patients registered for renal transplant and accepted for maintenance hemodialysis in our hospital were included and followed up until June 2004 to assess the role of INH prophylaxis in preventing development of TB. At the time of acceptance for hemodialysis, 54 patients were assigned to receive daily INH for 1 year and 55 patients were assigned to the control group. Primary outcome was development of TB. Secondary outcome was INH hepatotoxicity. To evaluate the effect of INH prophylaxis on the development of TB, a Kaplan–Meier survival estimate was used to plot TB‐free survival curve and log‐rank test was used for comparison.Results.Overall, TB was diagnosed in 27 patients during RRT, with an incidence of 24.8%. TB developed in 9 (16.7%) patients in the INH group and in 18 (32.7%) patients in the control group. There was a significantly lower incidence of TB in the INH group as compared with the control group. The risk ratio of INH vs. control group for development of TB was 0.40 (95% confidence index [CI], 0.17–0.92;P=0.032). In the INH group 27 (50%) patients and in the control group 17 (30.9%) patients developed some hepatic dysfunction. However, significant hepatitis that required discontinuation of INH developed in only 9 (16.7%) patients in the INH group. Furthermore, significant hepatitis also developed in 6 (10.9%) patients in the control group. The majority of patients with significant hepatitis in both groups (INH as well as control) were subsequently found to be positive for hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C viral infection. Mild hepatitis (which did not require discontinuation of INH) was seen in 18 (33.3%) patients in the INH group and 11 (20%) patients in the control group. Viral hepatitis infection was not found in any of the milder cases of hepatitis in either group.Conclusion.This study shows significant efficacy of INH chemoprophylaxis during RRT in preventing development of TB, when the INH was started during dialysis itself. INH chemoprophylaxis was safe and well tolerated in the majority of patients. However, mild hepatic dysfunction was common, both in the treatment as well as in the control group. As the incidence of viral hepatitis overall was high in our patients on RRT, it is difficult to identify INH‐induced hepatitis in this clinical setting.
The sensitivity and specificity of three common statistical rules for the classification of post‐operative cognitive dysfunction following coronary artery bypass graft surgery
Authors: Lewis M. S. , Maruff P. , Silbert B. S. , Evered L. A. , Scott D. A. 
Published: December 2005

Background:  The application of statistical rules to determine post‐operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) has varied, and partially explains the wide range of reported incidences of POCD in the literature. The current study assessed the sensitivity and specificity of three commonly used statistical rules in a sample of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients and healthy non‐surgical controls.Methods:  Two hundred and four CABG patients [mean age, 68.8 years; standard deviation (SD), 7.0 years] completed neuropsychological assessment pre‐operatively (baseline) and 1 week and 3 months post‐operatively. Ninety age‐ and gender‐matched non‐surgical controls (mean age, 67.8 years; SD, 7.9 years) completed the same tasks at the same time points. POCD was determined in each group using three rules: the 1SD decline on two or more tasks; the 20% decline on 20% of tasks rule; and a modified reliable change index.Results:  The modified reliable change index demonstrated the greatest combination of sensitivity and specificity. The 20% decline on 20% of tasks rule detected the largest incidence of impairment in the CABG group, but showed large incidences of false positive classifications in the control group. The 1SD rule detected the lowest incidence of POCD in the CABG group, but detected a larger incidence of impairment in the control group.Conclusions:  The use of the modified reliable change index is recommended, given the sensitivity to change it displayed and the low rates of false positive classification in the control sample. The use of control groups in future research is also recommended.