bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Abnormal Fatty Acid Pattern in Intestinal Mucosa of Children With Celiac Disease Is Not Reflected in Serum Phospholipids
Authors: Steel Daniella M. , Ryd Walter , Ascher Henry , Strandvik Birgitta 
Published: September 2006

ABSTRACTObjective:Celiac disease (CD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the small intestinal mucosa with disturbed epithelial transport. The fatty acid (FA) composition of intestinal membranes is important for epithelial function, and disturbances may contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease. We aimed to evaluate whether the intestinal mucosal FA status was reflected in serum phospholipids of patients with CD.Patients and Methods:Samples were obtained from 7 pediatric patients with active CD showing mucosal atrophy, 6 pediatric patients with CD in remission, and 11 control pediatric patients with morphologically healthy intestinal mucosa. Small intestinal biopsies were obtained using a Watson biopsy capsule under fluoroscopic control. Blood samples were collected on the same morning after an overnight fast. Tissue phospholipids were isolated by high‐performance liquid chromatography, and FAs were analyzed by capillary gas‐liquid chromatography.Results:Serum phospholipid FA showed marginal differences between the patients with CD and the controls. Significant differences were observed in mucosa with active CD compared with controls. Linoleic acid (18:2n‐6) level was decreased, whereas those of its derivatives were elevated, indicating increased transformation of n‐6 FA. Mead acid (20:3n‐9) level was increased, with an increased ratio of Mead acid to arachidonic acid (20:4n‐6) levels, suggesting essential fatty acid deficiency. The n‐3 FA levels were not significantly changed. During remission, the FA pattern of the intestinal mucosa was mainly similar to that in controls.Conclusions:The FA abnormality of intestinal mucosa in patients with active CD was not reflected in serum values. Altered FA content may contribute to the pathophysiology of the disease because FAs are important for enzymes and for the transport and receptor functions of epithelial membranes.
Oligosaccharides in Colostrum of Italian and Burkinabe Women
Authors: Musumeci Maria , Simpore Jacques , D'Agata Alfonsina , Sotgiu Stefano , Musumeci Salvatore 
Published: September 2006

ABSTRACTHuman milk contains a large number of compounds to provide nutrition and defense for the newborn. Among these, oligosaccharides are present in concentrations up to 12 g/L, and their composition varies during lactation. Colostrum from 53 Burkinabe women were collected at the maternity department of St Camille Medical Centre in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso, West Africa). Colostrum from 50 Italian women were collected at the maternity department of St Bambino Hospital in Catania (Catania, East Sicily, Italy). All mothers spontaneously delivered at term. Italian mothers received an injection of the ergot derivative ergotamine after delivery. Ergotamine, notoriously, delays breastfeeding initiation up to 2 to 3 days. Chromatographic separation of colostrum from both Burkinabe and Italian women showed a progressive appearance of oligosaccharides in the first 3 days. Burkinabe women showed high concentrations of 2‐fucosyllactose and lower concentrations of lacto‐N‐fucopentaose I. By contrast, Italian women showed inverted behaviour. A comparable percentage of the secretor genotype for the Lewis blood group phenotype in both Burkinabe and Italian women was found. According to the different ethnicity, different milk oligosaccharide profiles were documented in the present study. 2‐Fucosyllactose in milk should be biologically significant for Burkinabe infants because of the high levels found in their mothers' colostrum after the second day of lactation.
Evolution of Thiopurine Use in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease in an Academic Center
Authors: Banerjee Sanjoy , Bishop Warren P. 
Published: September 2006

ABSTRACTObjectives:We evaluated how our use of thiopurines was altered by determination of thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) level and drug dose adjustment guided by a 6‐mercaptopurine metabolite assay. We further examined whether these resulted in better selection of the drug dose, improved control of disease, and decreased corticosteroid use in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Patients and Methods:This is a retrospective review of 101 pediatric patients with IBD receiving a stable dose of azathioprine (AZA) for 4 months or longer. The study group (n = 64) consisted of patients who received AZA and had metabolite levels measured. The comparison group (n = 37) consisted of patients who were receiving AZA before the availability of metabolite measurement. The TPMT level was measured in study group patients before starting AZA.Results:Patients with normal TPMT level received a higher starting dose of AZA than in patients who were heterozygous for TPMT deficiency (1.7 vs 0.9 mg/[kg·d], P < 0.0001). Study group patients received a higher starting dose (1.6 vs 1.2 mg/[kg·d], P = 0.001) and a higher final dose of AZA (2.4 vs 1.7 mg/[kg·d], P < 0.0001) compared with patients in the comparison group. These patients also had more dose adjustments (0.8 vs 0.4 mg/kg, P < 0.002). The number of disease exacerbations per patient per year was 55% less in the study group (95% CI, 17%‐76%, P < 0.0001). The study group patients received less prednisone (P < 0.0001) and had lower disease activity scores (P < 0.05). There was no difference between groups in infliximab use or surgery rate.Conclusions:Azathioprine dose adjustment using a 6‐mercaptopurine metabolite assay was associated with use of higher doses, improved control of disease and decreased corticosteroid use in pediatric patients with IBD.
Evaluation of a Urine‐based Enzyme‐linked Immunosorbent Assay Test for the Detection of Helicobacter pylori Infection Among 3‐ to 5‐Year‐Old Israeli Arab Healthy Children
Authors: Muhsen Khitam , Athamna Abed , Athamna Muhammad , Spungin‐Bialik Anya , Cohen Dani 
Published: September 2006

ABSTRACTWe conducted a community‐based study among 159 healthy Israeli Arab children aged 3 to 5 years old to examine the validity of the HpELISA kit (URINELISA, Otuska Phamaceuticals Co, Ltd, Tokyo, Japan) for detection Helicobacter pylori IgG antibodies in urine. The polyclonal H. pylori stool antigen test (Premier HpSA) served as the gold standard. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the URINELISA kit were 34.2%, 96.3%, 90% and 60%, respectively. Using a cutoff value calculated based on the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.066), the corresponding figures were 65.8%, 87.5%, 83% and 72%, respectively. These data indicate that the usefulness of the URINELISA test in epidemiological studies in healthy young children is limited.
Analysis of CFTR, SPINK1, PRSS1 and AAT Mutations in Children With Acute or Chronic Pancreatitis
Authors: Sobczyńska‐Tomaszewska Agnieszka , Bąk Daniel , Oralewska Beata , Oracz Grzegorz , Norek Aleksandra , Czerska Kamila , Mazurczak Tadeusz , Teisseyre Mikołaj , Socha Jerzy , Zagulski Marek , Bal Jerzy 
Published: September 2006

ABSTRACTObjectives:Defects of PRSS1, SPINK1, CFTR and AAT are considered causative or predisposing to pancreatitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of these defects into molecular pathology of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and acute recurrent pancreatitis (ARP).Methods:Ninety‐two children with CP or ARP, 55 family members and 50 controls were investigated. The subjects were screened for PRSS1 mutations: R122H, R122C, A16V, N29I; SPINK1 N34S variant; panel of 14 CFTR defects: INNOLiPA CFTR12, CFTRdele2,3 and IVS8‐T variant or panel of 3 CFTR defects‐F508del, CFTRdele2,3 and IVS8‐T; AAT mutations: E264V, E342K.Results:We identified 1 mutated allele in at least 1 of 4 genes in 31 of 92 patients and 12 of 50 controls (P = 0.157). Mutations in SPINK1 and PRSS1 were most frequent. PRSS1 mutations were identified mainly in CP patients (9.6% of CP vs 2.5% of ARP alleles, P = 0.094), whereas N34S SPINK1 mutation was present with comparable frequency in CP and ARP patients (7.7% vs 10.0%, P = 0.768). The frequency of mutations in CFTR alleles was similar to controls (4.9% vs 5%, P = 0.587). Overall frequency of AAT mutations was lower than in the controls. Family studies showed that defects in the examined genes did not always segregate with disease.Conclusions:PRSS1 defects seem to be causative for pancreatitis, whereas defects in SPINK1 are suggested to be associated with the disease. No association between CFTR mutations and pancreatitis was observed. The importance of AAT variants remains speculative.
Agroinfection‐based high‐throughput screening reveals specific recognition of INF elicitins in Solanum
Authors: VLEESHOUWERS VIVIANNE G. A. A. , DRIESPRONG JAN‐DAVID , KAMPHUIS LARS G. , TORTO‐ALALIBO TRUDY , VAN'T SLOT KLAAS A. E. , GOVERS FRANCINE , VISSER RICHARD G. F. , JACOBSEN EVERT , KAMOUN SOPHIEN 
Published: September 2006

SUMMARYWe adapted and optimized the use of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens binary PVX expression system (PVX agroinfection) to screen Solanum plants for response to pathogen elicitors and applied the assay to identify a total of 11 clones of Solanum huancabambense and Solanum microdontum, out of 31 species tested, that respond to the elicitins INF1, INF2A and INF2B of Phytophthora infestans. Prior to this study, response to INF elicitins was only known in Nicotiana spp. within the Solanaceae. The identified S. huancabambense and S. microdontum clones also exhibited hypersensitivity‐like cell death following infiltration with purified recombinant INF1, INF2A and INF2B, thereby validating the screening protocol. Comparison of INF elicitin activity revealed that Nicotiana plants responded to significantly lower concentrations than Solanum, suggesting variable levels of sensitivity to INF elicitins. We exploited natural variation in response to INF elicitins in the identified Solanum accessions to evaluate the relationship between INF recognition and late blight resistance. Interestingly, several INF‐responsive Solanum plants were susceptible to P. infestans. Also, an S. microdontum ×Solanum tuberosum (potato) population that segregates for INF response was generated but failed to identify a measurable contribution of INF response to resistance. These results suggest that in Solanum, INF elicitins are recognized as general elicitors and do not have a measurable contribution to disease resistance.
Modern diagnosis and management of the porphyrias
Authors: Sassa Shigeru 
Published: September 2006

SummaryRecent advances in the molecular understanding of the porphyrias now offer specific diagnosis and precise definition of the types of genetic mutations involved in the disease. Molecular diagnostic testing is powerful and very useful in kindred evaluation and genetic counselling when a disease‐responsible mutation has been identified in the family. It is also the only way to properly screen asymptomatic gene carriers, facilitating correct treatment and appropriate genetic counselling of family members at risk. However, it should be noted that DNA‐based testing is for the diagnosis of the gene carrier status, but not for the diagnosis of clinical syndrome or severity of the disease, e.g. an acute attack. For the diagnosis of clinically expressed porphyrias, a logical stepwise approach including the analysis of porphyrins and their precursors should not be underestimated, as it is still very useful, and is often the best from the cost‐effective point of view.
Gö6976 is a potent inhibitor of the JAK 2 and FLT3 tyrosine kinases with significant activity in primary acute myeloid leukaemia cells
Authors: Grandage Victoria L. , Everington Tamara , Linch David C. , Khwaja Asim 
Published: September 2006

SummaryAberrant activation of Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK/STAT) signalling is implicated in a number of haematological malignancies and effective JAK inhibitors may be therapeutically useful. We found that Gö6976, an indolocarbazole inhibitor of the calcium‐dependent isozymes of protein kinase C (PKC), inhibited interleukin 3/granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor‐induced signalling, proliferation and survival whereas Gö6983, a broad spectrum PKC inhibitor, had no such effects. Gö6976 was found to be a direct and potent inhibitor of JAK2 in vitro. Gö6976 also inhibited signalling, survival and proliferation in cells expressing the leukaemia‐associated TEL–JAK2 fusion protein and the myeloproliferative disorder (MPD)‐associated JAK2 V617F mutant. In primary acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) cells, incubation with Gö6976 reduced constitutive STAT activity in all cases studied. In addition, Akt and mitogen‐activated protein kinase phosphorylation were reduced in 4/5 FLT3‐internal tandem duplication (ITD) positive AML cases and 7/13 FLT3‐wild‐type (WT) cases. Expression of FLT3‐WT, ITD and D835Y in 32D cells showed that Gö6976 is also a potent inhibitor of WT and mutant FLT3. In AML cells, Gö6976 reduced the survival to 55 ± 5% of control in FLT3‐ITD cases and to 69 ± 5% in FLT3‐WT samples. These data may help identify clinically useful compounds based on the structure of Gö6976, which can be employed for the treatment of MPDs as well as AML.
An amplified sandwich EIA for the measurement of soy aeroallergens
Authors: Gómez‐Ollés S. , Cruz M. J. , Renström A. , Doekes G. , Morell F. , Rodrigo M. J. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryBackground
Soy hull low‐molecular‐weight (SHLMW) allergens were responsible for the soy asthma epidemics in Barcelona, with one 7.5 kDa protein (Gly m 1) being the main IgE‐binding component. The aims of this study were to develop a sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using rabbit polyclonal antibodies to measure low levels of SHLMW allergens, and to compare this method with the previously described human IgE EIA‐inhibition technique.Methods
IgG was isolated from serum of rabbits immunized with a chromatographically purified SHLMW extract (SHLMWE). Antibody‐binding profiles were compared with those of human IgE anti‐soy protein antibodies by Western blot analysis. An amplified sandwich EIA was developed using the purified SHLMWE as a calibration standard. Results were expressed in nanograms per millilitre. To compare the two assays, 54 air samples were analysed by both methods.Results
SDS‐PAGE of the SHLMWE revealed four bands of 6, 8, 15 and 17 kDa. Gly m 1 in the SHLMWE was identified by fingerprinting. The detection limit of the assay was 40 pg/mL. The two methods correlated well (r=0.89; P<0.001). The allergen concentration was detected in all 54 (100%) samples by the sandwich EIA but in only 37 (68.5%) by the EIA inhibition.Conclusions
The amplified sandwich EIA for SHLMW components has a high sensitivity and appeared to be a useful tool for the measurement of airborne SHLMW allergens, even at relatively low concentrations. Moreover, the method uses rabbit antibodies at high dilutions and does not require human sera, with limited availability and quantitative and qualitative pool‐to‐pool variability.
Role of interleukin‐17F in chronic inflammatory and allergic lung disease
Authors: Hizawa N. , Kawaguchi M. , Huang S.‐K. , Nishimura M. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryIL‐17 family members belong to a distinct category of cytokines that coordinate local tissue inflammation by inducing the release of pro‐inflammatory and neutrophil‐mobilizing cytokines. The importance of the IL‐17 family in inflammatory and autoimmune disease is becoming increasingly apparent. IL‐17F is a recently discovered member of the IL‐17 family that has a number of biological activities through induction of various cytokines, chemokines, and mediators. IL‐17A, the founding member of the IL‐17 family, and IL‐17F are produced by several inflammatory cells, including activated T cells, in response to infectious and antigenic stimuli. Overexpression of IL‐17A or IL‐17F in the lungs results in induction of CXC chemokines and neutrophil recruitment. In a case–control study of 1125 unrelated Japanese subjects, a His161 to Arg161 (H161R) substitution in the third exon of the IL17F gene was shown to be associated with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Functionally, this variant failed to induce cytokines and chemokines, and interestingly, was able to antagonize the activity of wild‐type IL‐17F. These results provide an experimental basis for the observed genetic association with chronic inflammatory lung diseases, and also suggest the potential therapeutic utility of this antagonistic variant of IL‐17F. Given that asthma and COPD are complex diseases involving a number of genetic and environmental factors, the genetic impact of IL‐17F H161R with regard to the development of chronic airway inflammation likely varies among individuals with different genetic backgrounds and environmental exposures.
Association between air pollution and asthma admission among children in Hong Kong
Authors: Lee S. L. , Wong W. H. S. , Lau Y. L. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryObjective
To examine the association of air pollutants with hospital admission for childhood asthma in Hong Kong.Methods
Data on hospital admissions for asthma, influenza and total hospital admissions in children aged 18 years at all Hospital Authority hospitals during 1997–2002 were obtained. Data on daily mean concentrations of particles with aerodynamic diameter <10 μm (i. e. PM10) and <2.5 μm (i. e. PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3) and data on meteorological variables were associated with asthma hospital admissions using Poisson's regression with generalized additive models for correction of yearly trend, temperature, humidity, day‐of‐week effect, holiday, influenza admissions and total hospital admission. The possibility of a lag effect of each pollutant and the interaction of different pollutants were also examined.Results
The association between asthma admission with change of NO2, PM10, PM2.5 and O3 levels remained significant after adjustment for multi‐pollutants effect and confounding variables, with increase in asthma admission rate of 5.64% (3.21–8.14) at lag 3 for NO2, 3.67% (1.52–5.86) at lag 4 for PM10, 3.24% (0.93–5.60) at lag 4 for PM2.5 and 2.63% (0.64–4.67) at lag 2 for O3. Effect of SO2 was lost after adjustment.Conclusion
Ambient levels of PM10, PM2.5, NO2 and O3 are associated with childhood asthma hospital admission in Hong Kong.
Contact with livestock – a protective effect against allergies and asthma?
Authors: Dimich‐Ward H. , Chow Y. , Chung J. , Trask C. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryBackground
A ‘protective farm factor’ possibly related to livestock exposure is hypothesized to reduce the risk for allergic sensitization.Objective
The purpose of this study was to determine whether 4‐H club youth, who have opportunities for contact with livestock through club activities, have reduced risks of respiratory and allergic symptoms according to residence on a farm or exposure to livestock.Methods
A cross‐sectional postal survey was completed by British Columbia 4‐H members 8–20 years of age; a subset underwent skin prick testing as well. The association of farm residence and livestock exposure variables with symptoms were evaluated using logistic regression with adjustment for age, sex, cat and/or dog ownership, parental history of allergic disease, parental education, number of older siblings and exposure to smokers at home.Results
Questionnaires were completed by 1158 participants (response rate 50.3%); of these, a subset of 317 had skin prick tests (SPTs) (response rate 64.4%). Current residence on a farm was associated with a lower prevalence of ever having wheeze and asthma, as well as symptoms of atopic dermatitis. Variables relating to residence in a farm or rural area with livestock were more strongly associated with respiratory and allergic symptoms than were the livestock exposure variables such as frequency of contact and hours of barn use. The adjusted odds ratios for living in a farm residence in comparison with a rural non‐livestock area were 0.49 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.27–0.89) for diagnosed asthma, 0.51 (95% CI 0.30–0.85) for allergic rhinitis and 0.45 (95% CI 0.24–0.84) for atopic dermatitis.Conclusion
Our findings suggest that some aspects of the farm environment, not just attributable to contact with livestock, were protective for respiratory and allergic conditions among 4‐H youth.
Killed Mycobacterium vaccae suspension in children with moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Berth‐Jones J. , Arkwright P. D. , Marasovic D. , Savani N. , Aldridge C. R. , Leech S. N. , Morgan C. , Clark S. M. , Ogilvie S. , Chopra S. , Harper J. I. , Smith C. H. , Rook G. A. W. , Friedmann P.S. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryBackground
The hygiene hypothesis is often proposed to explain the high prevalence of atopy in the western world. Dysregulation of the immune system may result from inadequate exposure to micro‐organisms such as mycobacteria. A small trial suggested that a killed extract of Mycobacterium vaccae ameliorates atopic dermatitis (AD).Objectives
To confirm in a large clinical trial whether killed M. vaccae ameliorates AD in 5–16‐year‐old children.Methods
This was a randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind, multi‐centre study of the effect of intradermal injection of killed M. vaccae (0.1 or 1 mg) on patients, aged 5–16, with moderate‐to‐severe AD. Patients were followed up for 24 weeks. The primary end point was the change in severity of AD at 12 weeks, assessed using the six area, six‐sign, atopic dermatitis (SASSAD) score. Secondary end points included changes in disease extent, patient's global assessment and children's dermatology life quality index.Results
There were 166 patients randomized. The mean SASSAD score fell to a similar degree at week 12 in all treatment arms: from 33 to 24, (26%) in the high‐dose group, from 30 to 23 (25%) in the low‐dose group and from 36 to 27 (24%) in the placebo group (P>0.05). Secondary end points followed the same trend. Adverse events were generally those expected to occur in this population. Injection site reactions occurred in 32 patients at week 4.Conclusions
M. vaccae was no more effective than the placebo in ameliorating the severity of AD.