bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Association between age and clinical characteristics of renal cell carcinoma in adult patients
Authors: JUN CHEN , ZHISHUN XU , XIANZHOU JIANG , QIANG FU , JIN WANG 
Published: June 2006

Aim:  To study the association between age and clinical characteristics of renal cell carcinoma in adult patients.Methods:  Three hundred and ten patients with renal cell carcinoma were classified into three groups: ≤40 years group, 41–59 years group and ≥60 years group. The clinical characteristics of the three groups were compared to define the association.Results:  The male/female ratio was 1.3/1, 2.0/1, 3.3/1 in the three groups, respectively, and a significant difference appeared when comparing the ≤40 years group to the ≥60 years group (P = 0.010). The respective percentage of incidental renal cell carcinoma was 27.9%, 43.2%, 31.2%, and it was significantly higher in the 41–59 years group than the ≥60 years group (P = 0.047). The incidence of poorly differentiated renal cell carcinoma decreased with age increasing (11.6% vs 5.2% vs 2.7%), and there was significant difference between the ≤40 years group and the ≥60 years group (P = 0.038). In the ≤40 years group, the incidence of lymph node metastasis was 18.6%, which was significantly higher than the other two groups (P < 0.05). The percentage of T3a tumors was lower in ≤40 years group and the percentage of T1−3aN0M0 tumors was significantly higher in the 41–59 years group.Conclusions:  The percentage of female patients decreases with increasing age. The higher percentage of incidental renal cell carcinoma leads to the higher percentage of T1−3aN0M0 tumors in middle‐aged patients. The higher percentage of poorly differentiated renal cell carcinoma led to the higher incidence of lymph node metastasis and decreased percentage of T3aN0M0 tumors in younger patients.
Further experience with laparoscopic nephrectomy for Wilms’ tumour after chemotherapy
Authors: DUARTE RICARDO J. , DÉNES FRANCISCO T. , CRISTOFANI LILIAN M. , ODONE‐FILHO VICENTE , SROUGI MIGUEL 
Published: June 2006

There are four papers in this section, from Turkey, Japan and two from Brazil. The topics dealt with are VUR, PUJ and vesico‐ureteric junction obstruction, the non‐pharmocological treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction, and laparoscopic nephrectomy for Wilms’ tumour after chemotherapy.OBJECTIVETo report the results of laparoscopic nephrectomy for unilateral Wilms’ tumour in children treated with chemotherapy before surgery.PATIENTS AND METHODSEight children with unilateral nonmetastatic Wilms’ tumour included in the International Society of Pediatric Oncology 2001 protocol were treated with vincristine/actinomycin D and then had laparoscopic nephrectomy and lymph‐node sampling. A Veress needle puncture was made and a four‐trocar transperitoneal approach was used in all cases. The tumour was extracted with no morcellation through a Pfannenstiel incision.RESULTSAll eight tumours were completely removed, with lymph node samples; intraoperative bleeding was minimal (50 mL). There were no complications after surgery and patients were discharged after 2–3 days. No recurrences of disease, port‐site implantation or long‐term complications were detected.CONCLUSIONSLaparoscopic nephrectomy for unilateral Wilms’ tumour is feasible in children after chemotherapy; it is safe and allows the complete surgical approach required for treating this tumour. Although the patients had a good long‐term follow‐up, more patients are needed to compare the results of laparoscopic techniques with open surgery.
Computed tomography urography for diagnosing bladder cancer
Authors: TURNEY BENJAMIN W. , WILLATT JONATHAN M.G. , NIXON DAVID , CREW JEREMY P. , COWAN NIGEL C. 
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the use of computed tomography urography (CTU) for diagnosing bladder tumours in patients with macroscopic haematuria and aged >40 years.PATIENTS AND METHODSIn all, 200 consecutive patients attending a fast‐track haematuria clinic were assessed using ‘same‐day’ CTU and flexible cystoscopy. Patients were aged >40 years and had macroscopic haematuria with no urine infection. CTU studies were reported by one uroradiologist and scored on a 3‐point scale to quantify the probability of bladder cancer. All flexible cystoscopies were performed by the same cystoscopist with no knowledge of the findings of CTU, and scored using a 3‐point scale. Cystoscopy, pathological findings and CTU were then compared.RESULTSThe prevalence of bladder tumours was 24%; when CTU was compared with the histopathological findings, there was one false‐positive and three false‐negative diagnoses, indicating a sensitivity of 0.93 and a specificity of 0.99, with a 0.98 positive and 0.97 negative predictive value for detecting bladder cancer. A review of the three false‐negative cases showed that one was missed on original CTU reporting, the second had the appearance of prostate cancer on CTU and the third was a squamous metaplasia.CONCLUSIONSCTU is an accurate method of detecting bladder tumours in the present patients, and is reliable and accurate for assessing the bladder. Our results support the use of CTU as a first‐line screening tool for this high‐risk group, the use of which will obviate the need for flexible cystoscopy in patients with a negative CTU and allow those with an obvious tumour to be referred directly for rigid cystoscopy and resection. The remaining patients should be referred for flexible cystoscopy. Such a pathway would accelerate patient assessment by using fewer tests and provide a true ‘one‐stop’ clinic, allowing a comprehensive evaluation with a single test for the upper and lower urinary tract.
Risk factors for a poor outcome after therapy for acute pyelonephritis
Authors: PERTEL PETER E. , HAVERSTOCK DANIEL 
Published: June 2006

OBJECTIVETo define and characterize risk factors for the failure of treatment for acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis, as there are few reports available to predict which patients will respond poorly to treatment.PATIENTS AND METHODSRetrospective univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess data from two prospective clinical trials designed to evaluate antibiotic regimens for urinary tract infections. Data from 522 adult patients with acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis were analysed.RESULTSThe cure rate was 442/522 (85%) for patients with acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis. Significant independent predictors for treatment failure included hospitalization at baseline (P < 0.001), the presence of a resistant infecting organism (P < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.001), and a history of kidney stones (P = 0.004). The cure rate was 35/74 (47%) for patients with at least one of these four risk factors. Of the 80 patients assessed as treatment failures, only 39 (49%) had at least one of the four risk factors.CONCLUSIONSFour risk factors for a poor outcome after therapy for acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis were identified. The strongest predictors of failure were the need for hospitalization at baseline and the presence of an organism resistant to the antimicrobial agent used for therapy. Two other factors, diabetes mellitus and a history of kidney stones, might assist clinicians at the initial evaluation to decide which patients are at risk of subsequent treatment failure.
Intra‐individual variation in clutch and offspring size in an oviparous snake
Authors: Ford N. B. , Seigel R. A. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractIntra‐individual variation can be extremely informative in understanding the evolution of life‐history traits. In this study, we examined intra‐individual variation in clutch and offspring size for brown house snakes Lamprophis fuliginosus, a species that can lay up to six clutches in the laboratory within a 12‐month interval without a refractory period. The number of clutches produced per female during this interval ranged from two to six, and there was no significant relationship between the total number of clutches laid and maternal body size. Unlike results from lizards and turtles, house snakes showed no significant changes in clutch size or offspring size among successive clutches, and individual repeatability of both traits was moderate to high. House snakes in this study also showed a strong negative relationship between clutch size and offspring size for all clutches produced, as expected by life‐history theory. Our data indicate that house snakes show much less intra‐individual variation than most other reptile species examined. However, this high level of consistency may be due to regulation of food availability under laboratory conditions. This will be varied in future experiments to test the degree of plasticity exhibited by individual females for these traits.
Increased Plasma Fatty Acid Ethyl Ester Levels Following Inhibition of Oxidative Metabolism of Ethanol by 4‐Methylpyrazole Treatment in Human Subjects
Authors: Best Catherine A. , Sarkola Taisto , Peter Eriksson C.J. , Cluette‐Brown Joanne E. , Laposata Michael 
Published: June 2006

Background: Recent experimental evidence suggests that fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE), nonoxidative metabolites of ethanol, mediate ethanol‐induced organ damage. A direct association between pancreas‐specific toxicity and increased levels of FAEE following inhibition of the oxidative metabolism of ethanol by 4‐methylpyrazole (4‐MP) has previously been shown in studies with rats.Methods: We obtained plasma samples from 32 healthy human volunteers who drank ethanol following 4‐MP or placebo ingestion to determine whether in vivo inhibition of oxidative metabolism of ethanol causes a shift to nonoxidative metabolism of ethanol and the subsequent production of increased levels of FAEE. Plasma FAEE were isolated by solid‐phase extraction and quantified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS).Results: Plasma FAEE levels in subjects receiving 4‐MP treatment before ethanol consumption were elevated compared with plasma FAEE concentrations taken from control subjects who received a placebo before ethanol ingestion. Increased FAEE levels in the 4‐MP treatment group occurred after peak blood ethanol, and peak FAEE levels were achieved. There was a correlation between the blood ethanol and the plasma FAEE levels, and the correlation persisted in the presence or absence of 4‐MP. The peak FAEE values were greater in men than in women, with or without 4‐MP treatment.Conclusions: Our results indicate that the in vivo inhibition of the oxidative metabolism of ethanol using 4‐MP results in an increased circulating concentration of FAEE, products of the nonoxidative metabolism of ethanol.
Functional Assessment of Human Alcohol Dehydrogenase Family in Ethanol Metabolism: Significance of First‐Pass Metabolism
Authors: Lee Shou‐Lun , Chau Gar‐Yang , Yao Chung‐Tay , Wu Chew‐Wun , Yin Shih‐Jiun 
Published: June 2006

Background:Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is the principal enzyme responsible for ethanol metabolism in mammals. Human ADH constitutes a unique complex enzyme family with no equivalent counterpart in experimental rodents. This study was undertaken to quantitatively assess relative contributions of human ADH isozymes and allozymes to hepatic versus gastric metabolism of ethanol in the context of the entire family.Methods:Kinetic parameters for ethanol oxidation for recombinant human class I ADH1A, ADH1B1, ADH1B2, ADH1B3, ADH1C1, and ADH1C2; class II ADH2; class III ADH3; and class IV ADH4 were determined in 0.1 M sodium phosphate at pH 7.5 over a wide range of substrate concentrations in the presence of 0.5 mM NAD+. The composite numerical formulations for organ steady‐state ethanol clearance were established by summing up the kinetic equations of constituent isozymes/allozymes with the assessed contents in livers and gastric mucosae with different genotypes.Results:InADH1B*1individuals, ADH1B1 and ADH1C allozymes were found to be the major contributors to hepatic‐alcohol clearance; ADH2 made a significant contribution only at high ethanol levels (>20 mM). ADH1B2 was the major hepatic contributor inADH1B*2individuals. ADH1C allozymes were the major contributor at low ethanol (<2 mM), whereas ADH1B3 the major form at higher levels (>10 mM) inADH1B*3individuals. For gastric mucosal‐alcohol clearance, the relative contributions of ADH1C allozymes and ADH4 were converse as ethanol concentration increased. It was assessed that livers withADH1B*1may eliminate ∼95% or more of single‐passed ethanol as inflow sinusoidal alcohol reaches ∼1 mM and that stomachs with differentADH1Cgenotypes may remove 20% to 30% of single‐passed alcohol at the similar level in mucosal cells.Conclusions:This work provides just a model, but a strong one, for quantitative assessments of ethanol metabolism in the human liver and stomach. The results indicate that the hepatic‐alcohol clearance ofADH1B*2individuals is higher than that of theADH1B*1and those of theADH1B*3versus theADH1B*1vary depending on sinusoidal ethanol levels. The maximal capacity for potential alcohol first‐pass metabolism in the liver is greater than in the stomach.
Propensity of Alcohol Establishments to Sell to Obviously Intoxicated Patrons
Authors: Lenk Kathleen M. , Toomey Traci L. , Erickson Darin J. 
Published: June 2006

Background: Although it is illegal to sell alcohol to an individual who appears obviously intoxicated, several recent studies show that the propensity of these types of sales is high. Our study further assesses the propensity of alcohol establishments to sell alcohol to obviously intoxicated patrons. In addition to providing more recent data (2001) on pseudo‐intoxicated purchase attempts at Midwestern on‐premise establishments, our study examines the association between establishment policies/practices and the likelihood of sales to intoxicated patrons.Method: We hired professional actors to feign intoxication while attempting to purchase alcohol (pseudo‐intoxicated patrons) at 231 bars and restaurants, and we conducted a phone survey of owners/managers of each establishment. Our dependent variable was purchase attempt outcome (alcohol sold vs not sold). Our independent variables included policies/practices of establishments and characteristics of buyers/servers, establishments, and neighborhoods.Results: Pseudo‐intoxicated patrons were able to purchase alcohol in 65% of their attempts. Multivariate analyses showed the following: (1) compared with establishments with beer‐ and/or wine‐only licenses, establishments with full liquor licenses were less likely to sell to intoxicated patrons; (2) establishments with average length of employment among managers of at least 1 year were more likely to sell to obviously intoxicated patrons; and (3) establishments that held staff meetings at least once a month were less likely to sell to obviously intoxicated patrons. Neighborhood characteristics were not associated with our outcome in multivariate analyses.Conclusions: Our findings provide increased evidence of the need to address the illegal sale of alcohol to intoxicated patrons, particularly given that increased intoxication levels among patrons resulting from these types of sales can lead to alcohol‐related problems.
Behavioral Interaction Between Nicotine and Ethanol: Possible Modulation by Mouse Cerebellar Glutamate
Authors: Al‐Rejaie Salim , Dar M. Saeed 
Published: June 2006

Background: Epidemiological studies show that people who drink alcoholic beverages also smoke cigarettes and vice versa. Furthermore, animal studies provide circumstantial evidence for ethanol and nicotine interaction. Previously, we demonstrated that intracerebellar nicotine attenuates ethanol ataxia. This study investigated the possible role of glutamate in modulating the interaction of nicotine and ethanol.Methods: Glutamate drugs N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) and (+)‐α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methylisoxazole‐4‐propionic acid hydrate (AMPA) as well as their antagonists were directly microinfused into the cerebellum of CD‐1 male mice to evaluate their effect on ethanol (2 g/kg i.p.) ataxia. Drug microinfusions were made via stereotaxically implanted stainless‐steel guide cannulas. Rotorod was used to evaluate the ataxic response of ethanol.Results: Microinfusion of nicotine (0.3125, 1.25, 5 ng) significantly attenuated ethanol ataxia dose‐dependently, confirming the functional interaction between nicotine and ethanol as reported earlier. Intracerebellar pretreatment with hexamethonium, a nicotinic receptor (nAChR) antagonist, significantly blocked nicotine‐induced attenuation of ethanol ataxia suggesting participation of nAChRs. When ethanol was injected before nicotine microinfusion, nicotine failed to attenuate ethanol ataxia, indicating the critical importance of initial activation of nAChRs by nicotine. Intracerebellar microinfusion of NMDA (30, 60, 125 ng) and its antagonist, (+)‐MK‐801 (50, 100, 200 ng), significantly increased and decreased, respectively, the nicotine‐induced attenuation of ethanol ataxia in a dose‐related manner, suggesting participation of the NMDA receptor. Similarly, intracerebellar microinfusion of AMPA (7.5, 15, 30 ng) and its antagonist, nitro ‐2, 3‐dioxobenzoquinoxaline‐sulfonamide (NBQX; 25, 50, 100 ng), significantly increased and decreased, respectively, the nicotine‐induced attenuation of ethanol ataxia in a dose‐dependent manner. This suggests participation of the AMPA receptor and further supports involvement of the glutamate system in the ethanol–nicotine interaction. Intracerebellar nicotine failed to attenuate sodium‐pentobarbital (25 mg/kg i.p.) ataxia, suggesting the relative specificity of the nicotine–ethanol interaction.Conclusions: The results suggested that glutamate modulates the functional interaction between nicotine and ethanol because NMDA and AMPA enhanced the nicotine‐induced attenuation of ethanol ataxia, whereas (+)‐MK‐801 and NBQX reduced the attenuation.
Colonisation pattern of nonpathogenic Fusarium oxysporum, a potential biological control agent, in roots and rhizomes of tissue cultured Musa plantlets
Authors: Paparu P. , Dubois T. , Gold C.S. , Niere B. , Adipala E. , Coyne D. 
Published: June 2006

AbstractUnder laboratory conditions, nonpathogenic, endophytic Fusarium oxysporum inflicts high mortality among banana weevils and nematodes. Following inoculation into banana (Musa spp.) tissue cultured plants, successful colonisation is necessary for efficient biological control of these pests. The pattern of root and rhizome colonisation by two nonpathogenic Ugandan F. oxysporum strains (V2w2 and III4w1) in cv. Nabusa (AAA‐EA) was investigated using light microscopy. Percentage of colonisation in the rhizomes (93%) was higher than in the roots (56%), but hyphal density in the roots (0.30 mm−2) was higher than in the rhizomes (0.21 mm−2). The root bases were better colonised (76%) than root midsections (53%) or tips (39%). Both the strains colonised the roots and the rhizomes, with numerous hyphae infecting the hypodermis but fewer infecting the cortex. Colonisation of vascular tissues was not recorded. Despite the presence of hyphae in intercellular and intracellular spaces of the roots and the rhizomes, normal cell structure was observed. Our report provides the first in situ observation and quantification of endophyte colonisation in banana. The study demonstrated the ability of F. oxysporum strains V2w2 and III4w1 to penetrate intact host tissues and recolonise the host internally upon inoculation, an important step for their suitability as biological control agents.
Seasonal Cholera Caused by
Vibrio cholerae
Serogroups O1 and O139 in the Coastal Aquatic Environment of Bangladesh
Authors: Alam Munirul , Hasan Nur A. , Sadique Abdus , Bhuiyan N. A. , Ahmed Kabir U. , Nusrin Suraia , Nair G. Balakrish , Siddique A. K. , Sack R. Bradley , Sack David A. , Huq Anwar , Colwell Rita R. 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT

Since
Vibrio cholerae
O139 first appeared in 1992, both O1 El Tor and O139 have been recognized as the epidemic serogroups, although their geographic distribution, endemicity, and reservoir are not fully understood. To address this lack of information, a study of the epidemiology and ecology of
V. cholerae
O1 and O139 was carried out in two coastal areas, Bakerganj and Mathbaria, Bangladesh, where cholera occurs seasonally. The results of a biweekly clinical study (January 2004 to May 2005), employing culture methods, and of an ecological study (monthly in Bakerganj and biweekly in Mathbaria from March 2004 to May 2005), employing direct and enrichment culture, colony blot hybridization, and direct fluorescent-antibody methods, showed that cholera is endemic in both Bakerganj and Mathbaria and that
V. cholerae
O1, O139, and non-O1/non-O139 are autochthonous to the aquatic environment. Although
V. cholerae
O1 and O139 were isolated from both areas, most noteworthy was the isolation of
V. cholerae
O139 in March, July, and September 2004 in Mathbaria, where seasonal cholera was clinically linked only to
V. cholerae
O1. In Mathbaria,
V. cholerae
O139 emerged as the sole cause of a significant outbreak of cholera in March 2005.
V. cholerae
O1 reemerged clinically in April 2005 and established dominance over
V. cholerae
O139, continuing to cause cholera in Mathbaria. In conclusion, the epidemic potential and coastal aquatic reservoir for
V. cholerae
O139 have been demonstrated. Based on the results of this study, the coastal ecosystem of the Bay of Bengal is concluded to be a significant reservoir for the epidemic serogroups of
V. cholerae
.
Thermal Inactivation of
Bacillus anthracis
Spores in Cow's Milk
Authors: Xu Sa , Labuza Theodore P. , Diez-Gonzalez Francisco 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT

Decimal reduction time (time to inactivate 90% of the population) (
D
) values of
Bacillus anthracis
spores in milk ranged from 3.4 to 16.7 h at 72°C and from 1.6 to 3.3 s at 112°C. The calculated increase of temperature needed to reduce the
D
value by 90% varied from 8.7 to 11.0°C, and the Arrhenius activation energies ranged from 227.4 to 291.3 kJ/mol. Six-log-unit viability reductions were achieved at 120°C for 16 s. These results suggest that a thermal process similar to commercial ultrahigh-temperature pasteurization could inactivate
B. anthracis
spores in milk.
Dipeptide Synthesis by an Aminopeptidase from
Streptomyces septatus
TH-2 and Its Application to Synthesis of Biologically Active Peptides
Authors: Arima Jiro , Uesugi Yoshiko , Uraji Misugi , Iwabuchi Masaki , Hatanaka Tadashi 
Published: June 2006

ABSTRACT

Dipeptide synthesis by aminopeptidase from
Streptomyces septatus
TH-2 (SSAP) was demonstrated using free amino acid as an acyl donor and aminoacyl methyl ester as an acyl acceptor in 98% methanol (MeOH). SSAP retained its activity after more than 100 h in 98% MeOH, and in the case of phenylalanyl-phenylalanine methyl ester synthesis, the enzyme reaction reached equilibrium when more than 50% of the free phenylalanine was converted to the product. In an investigation of the specificity of SSAP toward acyl donors and acyl acceptors, SSAP showed a broad specificity toward various free amino acids and aminoacyl methyl esters. Furthermore, we applied SSAP to the synthesis of several biologically active peptides, such as aspartyl-phenylalanine, alanyl-tyrosine, and valyl-tyrosine methyl esters.