bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Morphological and Histological Examination of the Pan‐tropical Spotted Dolphin (Stenella attenuata) and the Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) Adrenal Gland
Authors: Clark L. S. , Cowan D. F. , Pfeiffer D. C. 
Published: March 2008

SummaryThe morphology and histology of the cetacean adrenal gland are poorly understood. Therefore, this study examined 32 pairs of adrenal glands from 18 pan‐tropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata) and 14 spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris). In both species, the cortex was pseudolobulated and contained a typical mammalian zonation. Medullary protrusions (0–3 per section) and a medullary band were identified in both species. ForS. attenuata, no statistical differences were found in the cortex to medulla (CM) ratio or the percent cross‐sectional area (PCA) of the adrenal glands compared with sex or sexual maturity. The mean CM ratio forS. attenuatawas 2.34 and the PCA was 64.4% cortex, 29.4% medulla and 6.2%‘other’. ‘Other’ indicates blood vessels, connective tissue and the gland capsule itself. ForS. longirostris, there was no statistical difference in the CM ratio compared with sexual maturity. However, a statistical difference was found between the CM ratio and sex, suggesting sexual dimorphism (female CM ratio = 2.46 and males = 3.21). No statistical differences were found in the PCA ofS. longirostrisadrenal glands by sexual maturity. However, a statistical difference was found between the PCA by sex. FemaleS. longirostrisadrenal glands consisted of 65.0% cortex, 27.3% medulla and 7.7%‘other’, whereas male adrenal glands consisted of 71.7% cortex, 22.7% medulla and 5.6%‘other’.
Sulpiride improves functional dyspepsia: A double‐blind controlled study
Authors: HUI WAI‐MO , LAM SHUI‐KUM , LOK ANNA SUK‐FONG , NG MATTHEW MA‐TAI , WONG KEE‐LAM , FOK KAI‐HING 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTA 4‐week placebo‐controlled trial was performed to study the efficacy of sulpiride, a hypothalamic non‐sedative neuroleptic and dopamine antagonist, in the treatment of 100 patients with functional dyspepsia, defined as dyspeptic symptoms despite normal endoscopy and cholecystography. Two patients on sulpiride were withdrawn because of sleepiness; no other undue side effects were recorded. At the end of 4 weeks, significantly (P < 0.02) more patients on sulpiride had improvement of nausea and belching (78%, 54% respectively) than patients on placebo (45%, 17% respectively). Pain and vomiting disappeared in approximately 50% and 70% of patients, respectively. In the overall assessment, 72% and 39% of the patients on sulpiride and placebo respectively had satisfactory improvement or became symptom‐free (P < 0.001). Response to treatment was not related to personal and environmental factors. It was concluded that sulpiride was effective in improving symptoms of dyspepsia, particularly nausea and belching.
In vitro growth of epithelial cells from mucosa derived from different regions of the gastrointestinal tract
Authors: WHITEHEAD R. H. , GARDNER J. 
Published: March 2008

Attempts have been made to culture the mucosa from various parts of the gastrointestinal tract. In this study, using an explant culture method, epithelial cells have been successfully cultured from all major regions of the gastrointestinal tract. The success rate, as judged by outgrowth of epithelial cells for at least 4 weeks, varied with the tissue studied with 19/50 colonic biopsies, 5/11 small intestinal biopsies, 9/12 stomach biopsies and 42/47 gallbladder biopsies yielding outgrowth of epithelial cells. Differentiation of the epithelial cells along the mucus cell pathway could be demonstrated on the monolayer cultures using Periodic acid Schiff or Alcian blue staining. Because the cultures were very heterogeneous and many morphological cell types were present in most cultures, differentiation along the other known differentiation pathways of the gastrointestinal mucosa, such as development of absorptive cells and endocrine cells, could not be excluded.The problem of bacterial contamination, which has hindered previous studies on tissue from these sites, was overcome by decontaminating the biopsy by soaking in dilute sodium hypochlorite (0.04%).
Hepatitis A and B in Australian Aboriginals living in an urban community
Authors: PATTERSON FRANKIE , DENT OWEN , HALL JOSEPH , SMITH COLEMAN 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is recognized in Australian Aboriginals, but epidemiological data on contemporary Aboriginal communities are limited. This study investigated HBV infection in urban Aboriginals from Condobolin, New South Wales, Australia. Sera from 236 Aboriginals and 125 Caucasians were screened by radio‐immunoassay for hepatitis B surface and e antigens, antibodies to surface, e and core antigens (including IgM anti‐HB core—EIA), and antibodies to hepatitis A virus (anti‐HAV). Sera which were positive for HBsAg were tested for hepatitis B e antigen, HBV‐DNA polymerase and HBV‐DNA molecular hybridization. More than half the Aboriginals tested (57.6%) had serological evidence of HBV infection (16.9% HBsAg) and 84.5% had anti‐HAV. There were no statistically significant differences between males and females for any marker. The Caucasians had 7.2% HBV antibodies, no HBsAg and 32.0% anti‐HAV. Aboriginal children in their first decade had 36.0% HBsAg and the prevalence of this antigen fell to 4.2% in Aboriginals over 50 years of age. The opposite age trend was found for antibodies which increased from 16% in children to a peak of 55.2% for adults aged 30–39. Endemic hepatitis B acquired early in life is evident in this Australian Aboriginal urban community. Transmission may be vertical or horizontal or both. Immunoprophylaxis with immune globulin and hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for neonates and seronegative individuals. The 91% prevalence of anti‐HAV in these Aboriginals aged 10–19 years is comparable to that of the developing world.
An evaluation of the phenomenon of cytoprotection using quantitative histological criteria
Authors: O'BRIEN PAUL , SCHULTZ CHRISTOPHER , GANNON BREN 
Published: March 2008

The concept of ‘cytoprotection’ is derived from observations that exogenous prostaglandins protect the gastric mucosa against injurious agents at doses insufficient to inhibit acid secretion. Measurements of the extent of cytoprotection generally rely on inspection of the open stomach for assessment of the extent of damage. Recent studies indicate that such macroscopic criteria are inaccurate. This study reports the development of quantitative histological techniques that enable valid studies of cytoprotection. Using a rat model of cytoprotection, injury was induced with 1 ml of absolute ethanol. Cytoprotection was induced with 25 μg prostaglandin E2 (PG) intragastrically 15 or 30 min prior to ethanol exposure. The area of macroscopic damage was measured with a computer‐based digitizer. Semi‐thin plastic sections of eight separate areas of the stomach were examined histologically and the length and depth of damage were measured using the digitizer. Surface area and volume of mucosal damage were calculated from these values. On macroscopic assessment after exposure to ethanol for 15 min, 44.6% of the surface appeared damaged. After pretreatment with PG the extent of ethanol damage appeared to be reduced. On microscopic assessment, however, the extent of damage was much greater with 94.5% of the surface damaged after ethanol alone and 73.7% surface damaged after pretreatment with PG. Thus, macroscopic assessment clearly underestimates the extent of damage. However, these data do indicate that PG protects the surface epithelium from the effects of ethanol. A much clearer demonstration of protection is evident from measurement of the volume of mucosa damaged. After ethanol alone, 31.5% of the mucosal volume was damaged compared with 3.8% when pretreatment by PG was given. When measurements were performed after exposure to ethanol for 30 min, significantly less surfacearea damage was present in the ethanol group. All other measurements were not different from the 15 min results. This study confirms the existence of cytoprotection, but indicates that macroscopic assessment underestimates the extent of damage, particularly in the cytoprotected stomach.Techniques for accurate microscopic measurement of the extent of damage are described which permit comparison between different cytoprotective agents.
Chilli ingestion does not lead to macroscopic gastroduodenal mucosal damage in healthy subjects*
Authors: KANG J. Y. , YAP I. , GUAN R. , LIM T. C. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTThirty‐eight healthy subjects who had normal index endoscopies were re‐endoscoped following ingestion of 20 g of chilli powder with 400 ml of water, 600 mg aspirin BP with 400 ml of water or 400 ml of water only. There were good correlations between endoscopic scores given by two endoscopists who independently recorded their findings, as well as with scores given by a third observer viewing photographs taken at endoscopy. There were statistically significant differences between the aspirin group and the other two groups but not between the chilli and the control groups. Chilli ingestion, therefore, does not lead to macroscopic gastroduodenal mucosal damage.
Cell‐mediated immunity, malnutrition and plasma zinc levels in adult coeliac disease
Authors: CORAZZA G. R. , PRATI C. , MULE P. , STURNIOLO G. C. , MARTIN A. , MARTELLI M. , QUAGLINO D. , GASBARRINI G. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to clarify the relationships between cell‐mediated immunity, nutritional status and plasma zinc levels in adult coeliac disease. Compared with healthy volunteers and treated coeliac patients, cell‐mediated immunity, assessed by skin tests, was significantly depressed in untreated coeliac disease. As far as plasma zinc is concerned, it was confirmed that levels are significantly low in untreated patients and that they increase significantly after gluten‐free diet, although this is not sufficient to return the plasma zinc levels to within the control range in 39% of the treated patients. Malnutrition, assessed by anthropometric criteria, was present in the majority of the untreated coeliacs and improved significantly after removal of gluten from the diet. In untreated coeliac patients, however, skin tests did not correlate with either plasma zinc levels or nutritional status, suggesting that in untreated coeliac disease depressed cell‐mediated immunity is probably secondary to other immunological abnormalities
Diagnostic and prognostic value of the determination of the aminopropeptide of type III procollagen in patients with primary liver cancer
Authors: FARINATI F. , ANNONI G. , DONATO M. F. , NARDELLI P. , BERTOZZO A. , DE MARIA N. , ZOTTI S. , SALVAGNINI M. , MARTINEZ D. , NACCARATO R. 
Published: March 2008

Abstract Hepatic fibroplasia seems to play an important role in the course of primary liver cancer (PLC) since, for instance, encapsulated and fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinomas show a definitely better prognosis. In this study, serum procollagen III amino‐terminal peptide (PIIIP) levels, which reflect synthesis and release of procollagen type III, were measured with the aim of assessing hepatic fibrogenesis in PLC patients and determining whether serum PIIIP levels play a diagnostic or prognostic role in PLC. Twenty‐five patients with PLC, 74 patients with cirrhosis and 38 healthy volunteers were studied. Serum PIIIP levels were determined by a radioimmunoassay (RIA) method.In PLC patients PIIIP serum levels were significantly higher than those of controls and cirrhotic patients (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01 respectively) but an analysis of individual values showed an important overlap between PLC and cirrhosis. No correlation was found between serum PIIIP levels and tumour histology, presence or absence of cirrhosis, Child status, possible aetiology of the disease, indices of hepatocellular inflammation, cholestasis and synthesis, or tumour markers. On the contrary, serum PIIIP levels correlated with tumour gross pattern (z=3, P < 0.001) and, inversely, with survival (r=0.659, P<0.01), patients with serum PIIIP over 25 ng/mL showing a significantly worse prognosis. These data confirm that hepatic fibroplasia plays an important, but not yet fully understood, role in the course of PLC. From the clinical point of view, PIIIP determination does not add to the differential diagnosis between PLC and cirrhosis but helps to identify patients with larger liver replacements and worse prognoses.
‘Metaplastic lesions’ in intrahepatic bile ducts in hepatolithiasis: A histochemical and immunohistochemical study
Authors: KURUMAYA HIROSHI , TERADA TADASHI , NAKANUMA YASUNI 
Published: March 2008

AbstractPathology of the intrahepatic bile ducts bearing calculi was examined with an emphasis on metaplasia in 22 cases of hepatolithiasis and in seven cases of normal livers. Normal livers contained few glandular elements within the bile duct walls and no metaplastic lesions or endocrine cells. In hepatolithiasis, a number of mucous glands resembling pyloric glands (pseudopyloric gland metaplasia) were seen within duct walls in all cases. The epithelial cells of the glands were positive for class III mucin with paradoxical concanavalin A staining which is known to be specific for pyloric glands. These cells were also positive for neutral, sialo‐ and sulfomucin to a variable extent. Intestinal metaplasia, including goblet cell and Paneth cell metaplasia, was found within duct walls and in covering epithelia in five (23%) cases. Endocrine cells, including argyrophil, argentaffin and gut hormone‐containing cells were present in these metaplastic lesions in 13 (59%) cases. The occurrence of endocrine cells was closely associated with intestinal metaplasia, although there were a few endocrine cells in metaplastic pseudopyloric glands. These findings suggest that metaplastic lesions similar to the well‐known metaplastic lesions in the gallbladder occur in the intrahepatic bile duct walls in hepatolithiasis. The appearance of metaplastic lesions and endocrine cells may be causally related to chronic inflammatory processes associated with hepatolithiasis.
Hepatocellular carcinoma presenting as acute spontaneous haemothorax
Authors: LIN HSIEN‐HONG , LIEW CHOONG‐TSEK , LIAW YUN‐FAN 
Published: March 2008

AbstractHepatocellular carcinoma may present in various ways, but only a few instances present with symptoms of distant metastases. This report describes a case of hepatocellular carcinoma presenting with acute haemothorax and haemorrhagic shock secondary to spontaneous rupture of chest wall metastasis. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a frequent malignancy in Asia and should be considered in the list of differential diagnosis of spontaneous haemothorax.
Percutaneous liver biopsy: A safe outpatient procedure
Authors: CHAWLA Y. K. , RAMESH G. N. , KAUR U. , BAMBERY P. , DILAWAR J. B. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractPercutaneous liver biopsy with Menghini or Trucut needle as an outpatient procedure was performed on 159 patients over a 3.5‐year period. No major complications were observed. Liver biopsy is recommended as an outpatient procedure, which would reduce the patient load on limited hospital beds and economize on the hospital resources.
Upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy in children and adolescents with Crohn's disease: A prospective study
Authors: CAMERON D. J. S. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTFifty‐six children and adolescents with Crohn's disease were prospectively investigated with gastroscopy and colonoscopy irrespective of localizing symptoms or signs. Routine biopsies were taken from endoscopically normal and abnormal areas.A high incidence (71%) of upper gastrointestinal (GI) involvement was found. In 41%, these findings were instrumental in making the diagnosis. The ileum was viewed in 49 of the 56 cases.Overall, the upper GI tract was involved in 71%, the terminal ileum in 53%, and the colon in 86% (oesophagus 16%, body of stomach 46%, antrum 36%, duodenum 21%, terminal ileum 53%, caecum 69%, transverse colon 71%, sigmoid 60% and rectum 41%).Upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy with systematic biopsies should be performed early in the diagnostic assessment of children and adolescents with suspected inflammatory bowel disease to enable accurate diagnosis and assessment of extent of disease.
Hepatitis B vaccination: Half dose recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccine (B‐Hepavac II) is as immunogenic as the full recommended dose in healthy adults
Authors: GUAN R. , YAP I. , TAY H. H. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTSixty‐seven healthy adult volunteers aged 20–40 years with no previous exposure to hepatitis B virus were randomized to receive either a 10 μg or 5 μg dose of recombinant DNA hepatitis B (HB) vaccine (B‐Hepavac II) intramuscularly at 0, 1 and 6 months. Two months after the third injection 100% of subjects had seroconverted: 97% of the 10 μg group and 91% of the 5 μg group had antibody to HB surface antigen (anti‐HBs) levels greater than 10 iu/L. The geometric mean titres (GMT) of anti‐HBs levels at this time were 891 iu/L in the 10 μg dose group and 923 iu/L in the 5 μg dose group. These differences were not significant. Adverse effects included fever and mild pain at the injection site. The reduced dose of 5 μg was as effective as the standard 10 μg dose.
Comparative effects of 5% ethanolamine oleate versus 5% sodium morrhuate for sclerotherapy of oesphageal varices
Authors: KITANO S. , WADA H. , YAMAGA H. , HASHIZUME M. , KOYANAGI N. , IWANAGA T. , ISO Y. , SUGIMACHI K. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTForty‐five cirrhotic patients with oesophageal varices were randomized to receive endoscopic injection sclerotherapy with either 5% ethanolamine oleate (EO), or 5% sodium morrhuate (SM). In the EO group, there was a statistically significant higher rate of disappearance of red colour signs on the varices a week after the initial session of sclerotherapy than in the SM group (91.3%vs 45.5%, P < 0.05). A jet‐like bleeding from injection sites at the second session of sclerotherapy occurred in three patients in the SM group and they experienced blurred vision. There was no such occurrence in the EO group. Oesophageal bleeding requiring blood transfusion during the course of repeated sclerotherapy occurred only in the SM group (five patients): bleeding was from a partly thrombosed varix and in four was from oesophageal ulcers.We found that EO administered intravariceally is more efficacious than SM for sclerotherapy of oesophageal varices.
Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis B virus in Indonesia
Authors: SASTROSOEWIGNJO RETNO I. , SANDJAJA BERNARDUS , OKAMOTO HIROAKI 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTThe S‐gene sequences of hepatitis B virus (HBV) from 22 carriers in several islands of Indonesia were amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and XbaI‐Spel fragments corresponding to nucleotides 93–529 (437 base pairs) in the S gene were sequenced. The 22 sequences, along with the 5 reported sequences from Indonesia, were compared with each other, and with the corresponding sequences of 20 clones from other countries including China, France, Great Britain, Japan, Kenya, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, USA and USSR. When the 27 HBV DNA clones of various subtypes from Indonesia were classified by the homology in the nucleotide sequence into the five genotypes, twelve belonged to genotype B (subtype adw 7 and ayw 5), 13 to genotype C (adw 1, adr 10, ayr 1 and ar 1), and 2 to genotype D (ayw); none belonged to genotype A or E. Different subtypes of clones in the same genotype indicated that point mutations inducing d‐to‐y or w‐to‐r phenotypic changes would be common among Indonesian carriers. Comparison of the translation products of Xbal‐Spel fragments, now available for 47 HBV DNA clones of different genotypes (A 4; B 14; C 21; D 7; E 1), identified several amino acids characteristic to or influenced by the five genotypes as well as those highly conserved by clones of different genotypes.
A double‐blind study of misoprostol (SC‐29333) in the healing of duodenal ulcer
Authors: AHMED WAQAR‐UDDIN , QURESHI HUMA , ALAM EJAZ , ZUBERI SARWAR J. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn a double‐blind randomized placebo controlled trial, 50 patients with endoscopically confirmed duodenal ulcer were treated with either misoprostol 200 μg or placebo in q.i.d. doses for 4–8 weeks. Of 25 patients in the placebo group, four defaulted and two were withdrawn due to worsening of symptoms. Of 25 misoprostol‐treated cases, 17 cases (68%) and 21 cases (84%) healed at 4 and 8 weeks respectively, compared with three (14%) and five (24%) of the 21 placebo‐treated cases (P < 0.001). Except for diarrhoea in 2 patients in each group and itching in one with misoprostol, no serious side effects were noted.
Ultrastructural studies of hepatocyte cytoskeleton in experimental cholestasis by quick‐freezing and deep‐etching method
Authors: FURUTA KIYOSHI , OHNO SHINICHI , GIBO YUKIO , KIYOSAWA KENDO 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTThe ultrastructural association between the cytoskeleton and other organelles was studied by the quick‐freezing and deep‐etching method in rats treated with α‐naphthylisothiocyanate (ANIT), or phalloidin, and in rats with obstructive jaundice. Cytoplasmic filaments were classified by measuring their diameters, and actin filaments were identified by specific decoration with myosin subfragment 1 (S1). S1‐positive actin filaments and S1‐negative intermediate filaments (12–14 nm in diameter) were observed to form a three‐dimensional network around bile canaliculi, and were more numerous than in controls, not only in phalloidin‐treated rats and rats with obstructive jaundice, but also in ANIT‐administered rats. In all cholestatic rats, vesicular structures were also more numerous than in controls in the pericanalicular regions, and were closely associated with the microfilaments and the intermediate filaments. Filaments of a new type were localized between the lamellae of rough‐surfaced endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, and between the lamellae of Golgi sacs and vesicles. Other thin filaments were also observed within the network of actin filaments. These filaments were 4–6 nm in diameter on replica membranes and were never decorated with S1. They were also directly connected with the canalicular membranes. Cytoskeletal components associated with membrane‐bound organelles, including these new filaments, were suggested to be involved in the localization and migration of organelles.
Development of hepatocellular carcinoma in a man with auto‐immune chronic active hepatitis
Authors: YOUSUF MUHAMMAD , KIYOSAWA KENDO , SODEYAMA TAKESHI , YODA HIDETOSHII , NAKANO YOSHIYUKI , FURUTA SEIICHI 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTA 57 year old man with auto‐immune chronic active hepatitis, regularly treated with immunosuppressive therapy, had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) 10 years after diagnosis of the hepatitis. Assays of the hepatitis C virus antibodies against capsid and non‐structural proteins revealed seronegativity in serial serum samples of this patient stored in the previous 10 years during follow up. The seronegative hepatitis C antibodies excluded hepatitis C virus as the cause of the HCC. The occurrence of HCC in this case suggests the necessity of surveillance for early detection of liver cancer in patients with auto‐immune chronic active hepatitis undergoing long‐term immunosuppressive therapy.