bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A low‐GI diet is associated with a short‐term improvement of glycaemic control in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Yusof B. N. M. , Talib R. A. , Kamaruddin N. A. , Karim N. A. , Chinna K. , Gilbertson H. 
Published: January 2009

Aims:  The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of low glycaemic index (GI) vs. conventional carbohydrate exchange (CCE) dietary advice on glycaemic control and metabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods:  A total of 104 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to either a low GI (GI) or CCE dietary advice over a 12‐week period. The primary end‐point was glycaemic control as assessed by glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fructosamine level and plasma glucose. The secondary end‐points were anthropometric measurements and metabolic parameters that include blood pressure, lipid profile and insulin levels. The oral antidiabetic medications remained unchanged throughout the duration of the study.Results:  A low‐GI diet was associated with significant changes in the fructosamine level (ΔGI = −0.20 ± 0.03; ΔCCE = −0.08 ± 0.03 mmol/l, p < 0.01) and waist circumference (ΔGI group = −1.88 ± 0.30 cm; ΔCCE group: −0.36 ± 0.4 cm, p < 0.05) at week 4. At week 12, the changes in fasting glucose (ΔGI = −0.03 ± 0.3; ΔCCE = 0.7 ± 0.3 mmol/l; p < 0.05) and waist circumference (ΔGI = −2.35 ± 0.47 cm; ΔCCE group = −0.66 ± 0.46 cm; p < 0.05) in the GI group was significantly lower than the CCE group. With the low‐GI diet, the changes in postprandial glycaemia at time 0, 60, 150 and 180 min after consuming the standard test meal was lower than with the CCE diet (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the groups for the remaining parameters that were measured.Conclusions:  Use of a low‐GI diet resulted in significant changes of serum fructosamine level, plasma glucose and waist circumference in Asian patients with type 2 diabetes over a 12‐week period compared with those following a CCE diet. The effect on HbA1c and other metabolic parameters was not significantly different between the two study groups but the improvement within the GI group was more pronounced and of clinical benefit.
The prognostic significance of advanced age in patients with bladder cancer treated with radical cystectomy
Authors: Resorlu Berkan , Beduk Yasar , Baltaci Sumer , Ergun Gul , Talas Halit 
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association of patient age with pathological and long‐term oncological outcomes after radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder carcinoma, as this disease, like many others, increases in incidence with age.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed 241 consecutive patients with invasive bladder cancer who had RC between 1990 and 2007. The age at RC was analysed both as a continuous and categorical (≤50 years, 38 patients; 51–69, 172; or ≥70, 31) variable. Survival was also analysed.RESULTSIncreasing age, analysed as a continuous and categorical variable, was associated with advanced pathological stage (P = 0.009 and 0.006, respectively). The 5‐year cancer‐specific survival rates for patients according to the age groups were 78.5%, 44.9% and 28.1%, respectively, and Kaplan‐Meier analysis showed an increased risk of bladder cancer‐specific death with advancing age (P < 0.001). Being older at RC was an important prognostic factor for disease‐specific survival in a multivariate Cox regression model. Patients aged ≥70 years had a significantly higher risk of disease than patients aged ≤50 years (P = 0.002).CONCLUSIONSHigher age at RC is significantly associated with the risk of pathologically advanced disease and poorer cancer‐specific survival. More prospective work is needed to examine the impact of age on tumour biology and cancer‐specific survival.
Prognostic significance of microscopic bladder neck invasion in prostate cancer
Authors: Rodríguez‐Covarrubias Francisco , Larré Stéphane , Dahan Mickael , De La Taille Alexandre , Allory Yves , Yiou René , Vordos Dimitri , Hoznek Andras , Abbou Claude‐Clément , Salomon Laurent 
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVETo assess the prognostic significance of microscopic bladder neck invasion (BNI+) after radical prostatectomy (RP).PATIENTS AND METHODSFrom January 1988 to December 2006, 1480 patients with clinically localized prostate cancer were surgically treated at one tertiary university hospital. The risk of biochemical progression, defined as a prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level after RP of >0.2 ng/mL, was assessed with univariate and multivariate analyses for clinical and pathological variables. We compared the biochemical progression‐free survival (bPFS) of patients with BNI+ vs stages pT2, pT3a, pT3b and positive lymph nodes (N+). In a second analysis, we evaluated the bPFS of patients in different stages associated with BNI+ and compared them with those in the same stages with no BNI.RESULTSBNI+ was found in 132 (9%) patients; the 5‐year bPFS was 86%, 54%, 26% and 10% for stages pT2, pT3a, pT3b and N+, respectively, while it was 30% for BNI+ (P < 0.001). There was no difference in the 5‐year bPFS between stage pT2 and pT2 + BNI (P = 0.32). Stages pT3a and pT3b had a better 5‐year bPFS than stage pT3a + BNI (P = 0.003) and pT3b + BNI (P = 0.001), respectively. In the univariate analysis all variables were associated with BP. In the multivariate analysis, only BNI+ had no association with BP (odds ratio 1.14, 95% confidence interval 0.70–1.85; P = 0.59).CONCLUSIONSMicroscopic BNI+ in prostate cancer is not an independent risk factor for biochemical progression and should be regarded as a factor that worsens the prognosis of the underlying tumour stage. A longer follow‐up is necessary to confirm these findings.
Heparin‐binding epidermal growth factor‐like growth factor functionally antagonizes interstitial cystitis antiproliferative factor via mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway activation
Authors: Kim Jayoung , Keay Susan K. , Freeman Michael R. 
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVETo delineate the mechanism underlying the potential functional relationship between interstitial cystitis antiproliferative factor (APF) and heparin‐binding epidermal growth factor‐like growth factor (HB‐EGF), as APF has previously been shown to decrease the proliferation rate of normal bladder epithelial cells and the amount of HB‐EGF produced by these cells.MATERIALS AND METHODSAPF‐responsive T24 transitional carcinoma bladder cells were treated with high‐pressure liquid chromatography‐purified native APF with or without HB‐EGF to determine the involvement of signalling pathways and proliferation by Western blot analysis, p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (Erk)/MAPK assays, and 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazolyl‐2)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.RESULTSCyclic stretch induced the secretion of HB‐EGF from T24 cells overexpressing the HB‐EGF precursor, resulting in enhanced proliferation. T24 cells treated with APF had increased p38MAPK activity and suppressed cell growth, events that were both reversed by treatment with a p38MAPK‐selective inhibitor. Activation of Erk/MAPK by HB‐EGF was inhibited by APF, and APF did not stimulate p38MAPK in the presence of soluble HB‐EGF or when cells overexpressed constitutively secreted HB‐EGF. Lastly, APF inhibitory effects on cell growth were attenuated by HB‐EGF.CONCLUSIONSThese results indicate that HB‐EGF and APF are functionally antagonistic and signal through parallel MAPK signalling pathways in bladder cells.
Thymidylate synthase was associated with patient prognosis and the response to adjuvant therapy in bladder cancer
Authors: Li Yongnan , Li Xiaoxia , Dai Haiping , Sun Xiaodong , Li Jinhua , Yang Fenghua , Gu Hongmei , Yang Yong , Jin Zaishun , Chu Yanhui , Jin Xiudong , Kakehi Yoshiyuki , Wu Xiuxian 
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of thymidylate synthase (TS), a key enzyme in DNA synthesis that is over‐expressed in several cancer cells, in bladder cancer and its association with patient prognosis and the response to adjuvant therapy.PATIENTS AND METHODSIn all, 67 bladder tissue specimens were obtained from patients who had undergone transurethral resection (TUR). TS expression in bladder cancer and normal bladder tissue was analysed by immunohistochemistry.RESULTSOf the 67 bladder tissue specimens, 47 (70%) and 10 (15%) had positive expression for TS in cancer and normal tissues, respectively. TS expression was greater in patients with Grade 3 (16/17, 94%) than in Grade 1 and 2 (31/50, 64%; P = 0.002). It was also greater in Stage T1 (14/14) than in Stage Ta (33/53, 62%; P = 0.001). Furthermore, patients with negative TS expression had a longer postoperative recurrence‐free survival (RFS) than those with positive expression during the 5 year follow‐up (P = 0.028). In the patients with positive TS‐expressing tumours, adjuvant therapy significantly improved RFS (P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSHigh TS expression might be a marker of poor prognosis for patients with bladder cancer. In addition, patients with high TS expression might also be benefit from adjuvant therapy.
Effects of doxycycline on voiding behaviour of rats with bladder outlet obstruction
Authors: Elkelini Mohamed S. , Aitken Karen , Bagli Darius J. , Hassouna Magdy M. 
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVETo examine the voiding behaviour changes in rats with bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) while inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity with doxycycline, as increased MMP activity may be involved in obstruction‐induced bladder hypertrophy.MATERIALS AND METHODSFemale Sprague‐Dawley were divided into eight groups (three rats in each group): normal control (NC) ± doxycycline, 3 weeks partial BOO (3WPBOO) ± doxycycline, 6 weeks PBOO ± doxycycline, and 3 weeks PBOO followed by 3 weeks de‐obstruction (3WOD) ± doxycycline. All rats received the same food and water and were on the same 12 h dark/light cycle housed in metabolic cages. Treatment groups were given doxycycline 15 mg/kg/day subcutaneously twice daily. The voiding variables measured were average voided volume (AV V) and voiding frequency (VF) in 24 h. After completion of the voiding behaviour studies, the rats were killed and their bladders were excised and weighed.RESULTSThe AV Vs were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in all study groups compared with the NC group except for the 3WPBOO‐doxycycline and 3WOD‐doxycycline groups. The VF was significantly increased (P < 0.05) only in the 3WOD‐doxycycline group. The bladder weights were significantly increased after PBOO in all the study groups (P < 0.05), except for the 3WOD group.CONCLUSIONThese data show that MMP inhibition may affect voiding behaviour during the response to BOO or its relief. This is the first clinical demonstration that interfering with a principal target of bladder muscle wall remodelling may have a direct effect on bladder function.
Hybrid tumour ‘oncocytoma‐chromophobe renal cell carcinoma’ of the kidney: a report of seven sporadic cases
Authors: Delongchamps Nicolas B. , Galmiche Louise , Eiss David , Rouach Yannick , Vogt Benoit , Timsit Marc‐Olivier , Vieillefond Annick , Méjean Arnaud 
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVESTo determine whether renal hybrid tumours (HT) appear as a specific clinical and radiological entity, as HT are characterized by the association of both oncocytes and chromophobe cells within the same tumour, and have been described in patients with oncocytosis and Birt‐Hogg‐Dube syndrome.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe reviewed the medical charts of 67 patients who had a partial or radical nephrectomy in our institution for renal oncocytoma (RO, 24), chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (CRCC, 36) and HT (seven), from January 2006 to October 2007. We report the clinical, radiological and pathological characteristics of the seven cases of HT.RESULTSThe mean (range) age of the patients was 56 (41–68) year. None of the seven patients had any suspicion of RO, based on computed tomography (CT). Two patients had a history of kidney cancer. Five patients had partial and two a radical nephrectomy. The mean (range) maximum tumour diameter was 5.5 (1.8–9) cm. Two tumours were pT1a, two were pT1b and three were pT2. Pathological analysis showed RO‐like and CRCC‐like cells intermixed (six patients) or distinct (one). After a median (range) follow‐up of 20 (8–25) months, none of the patients had any evidence of disease recurrence.CONCLUSIONSIn a large series of patients with sporadic RO and CRCC, 10% of the tumours had hybrid morphological features, as described in oncocytosis and Birt‐Hogg‐Dube syndrome. We were unable to identify any specific clinical characteristic. Most importantly, none of these HT showed any of the radiological characteristics of RO.
Abdominal mesh sacrocolpopexy for recurrent triple‐compartment pelvic organ prolapse
Authors: Gilleran Jason P. , Zimmern Philippe 
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVETo report the short‐ and intermediate‐ term outcome of safety and efficacy after abdominal‐mesh sacrocolpopexy (MSC) for recurrent anterior, posterior and vault (‘triple‐compartment’) pelvic organ prolapse (POP).PATIENTS AND METHODSIn a database review we identified non‐neurogenic women who had MSC for recurrent triple‐compartment POP and with a ≥6‐month cystographic follow‐up. The preoperative evaluation included a history, physical examination, Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI‐6) and visual analogue quality‐of‐life (QoL) questionnaires, urodynamic studies, and a standing lateral voiding cysto‐urethrogram (VCUG) with rest‐strain views. All surgery as performed by the same surgeon, using polypropylene (Marlex) mesh. Perioperative data, the VCUG at 6 months, and interval pelvic examinations were recorded.RESULTSBetween 2000 and 2006, 29 postmenopausal women (Caucasian, mean age 64 years, sd 11) underwent MSC. The mean (sd, range) operative duration was 228 (75, 170–340) min, the estimated blood loss 150 (100) mL and the inpatient stay 3 (1) days. At a mean (sd) follow‐up of 23 (16) months, the physical examination showed no evidence of POP of grade ≥2, with mean POP‐Quantification scores of −2.8 (0.4), −2.9 (0.4) and −9.3 (0.8) for points Aa, Ap and C, respectively. Two patients (8%) had evidence of grade ≥2 cystocele at the 6‐month VCUG. After MSC, four of the six UDI and the QoL scores were significantly lower at the last follow‐up than at baseline, with no change in sexual or defecatory function.CONCLUSIONSThe objective and subjective improvement at the short and intermediate follow‐up after MSC suggest that this is a safe and effective treatment for recurrent triple‐compartment POP.
VARIANCE ESTIMATION IN TWO‐PHASE SAMPLING
Authors: Hidiroglou M.A. , Rao J.N.K. , Haziza David 
Published: January 2009

SummaryTwo‐phase sampling is often used for estimating a population total or mean when the cost per unit of collecting auxiliary variables,x, is much smaller than the cost per unit of measuring a characteristic of interest,y. In the first phase, a large samples1is drawn according to a specific sampling designp(s1), and auxiliary dataxare observed for the unitsi∈s1. Given the first‐phase samples1, a second‐phase samples2is selected froms1according to a specified sampling design{p(s2∣s1) }, and (y,x) is observed for the unitsi∈s2. In some cases, the population totals of some components ofxmay also be known. Two‐phase sampling is used for stratification at the second phase or both phases and for regression estimation. Horvitz–Thompson‐type variance estimators are used for variance estimation. However, the Horvitz–Thompson (Horvitz & Thompson,J. Amer. Statist. Assoc.1952) variance estimator in uni‐phase sampling is known to be highly unstable and may take negative values when the units are selected with unequal probabilities. On the other hand, the Sen–Yates–Grundy variance estimator is relatively stable and non‐negative for several unequal probability sampling designs with fixed sample sizes. In this paper, we extend the Sen–Yates–Grundy (Sen,J. Ind. Soc. Agric. Statist.1953;Yates & Grundy,J. Roy. Statist. Soc. Ser. B1953) variance estimator to two‐phase sampling, assuming fixed first‐phase sample size and fixed second‐phase sample size given the first‐phase sample. We apply the new variance estimators to two‐phase sampling designs with stratification at the second phase or both phases. We also develop Sen–Yates–Grundy‐type variance estimators of the two‐phase regression estimators that make use of the first‐phase auxiliary data and known population totals of some of the auxiliary variables.
Kinetics of plasma cytokines and chemokines during primary HIV‐1 infection and after analytical treatment interruption
Authors: Barqasho B , Nowak P , Tjernlund A , Kinloch S , Goh L‐E , Lampe F , Fisher M , Andersson J , Sönnerborg A ,   for the QUEST study group
Published: January 2009

BackgroundThere are strong theoretical arguments for initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) during primary HIV‐1 infection (PHI) to preserve HIV‐1‐specific T‐cell responses and to decrease immune activation.MethodsWe assessed the degree of immune activation during PHI and after analytical treatment interruption (ATI) in plasma samples from 22 subjects by measuring 13 cytokines/chemokines with the Luminex system. Subjects initiated quadruple ART at PHI (the QUEST cohort) and were classified as responders or nonresponders according to their HIV‐1 viral load (VL) 6 months post‐ATI.ResultsDuring PHI, nonresponders had higher levels of HIV‐1 RNA, interferon (IFN)‐γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐10 and eotaxin than responders (P≤0.05). A positive correlation was found between VL and IFN‐α, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)‐1α and MIP‐1β, respectively. Post ATI, responders had higher levels of IFN‐γ, MIP‐1β and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)‐1 than nonresponders, while nonresponders had higher levels of HIV‐1 RNA, IL‐15 and eotaxin. Cytokine/chemokine levels were higher during PHI than post‐ATI.ConclusionsHigh levels of immune activation during PHI are associated with a worse virological outcome post‐ATI. In contrast, VL post‐ATI is negatively correlated with IFN‐γ and chemokines. Therefore, the degree of immune activation during PHI is associated with both the VL at PHI and the viral set‐point post‐ART.
Acetyl‐l‐carnitine and nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor‐associated neuropathy in HIV infection
Authors: Valcour V , Yeh T‐M , Bartt R , Clifford D , Gerschenson M , Evans SR , Cohen BA , Ebenezer GJ , Hauer P , Millar L , Gould M , Tran P , Shikuma C , Souza S , McArthur JC ,   the AIDS Clinical Trials Group (ACTG) 5157protocol team
Published: January 2009

ObjectivesAntiretroviral toxic neuropathy (ATN) is associated with dideoxynucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor use in patients infected with HIV, possibly as a result of mitochondrial toxicity. Acetyl‐l‐carnitine (ALC) has been linked to symptomatic improvement in ATN. We present an open‐label single‐arm pilot study to evaluate changes in intra‐epidermal nerve fibre (IENF) density and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copies/cell among subjects treated with 3000 mg ALC daily.MethodsPunch skin biopsies were examined at baseline and after 24 weeks of therapy. Participants reported neuropathic symptoms using the Gracely Pain Intensity Score. Neurological examinations were completed.ResultsTwenty‐one subjects completed the study. ALC was generally well tolerated. The IENF density did not change in cases completing 24 weeks of ALC therapy, with median (90% confidence interval) IENF changes of −1.70 (−3.50, ∞) (P=0.98) and 2.15 (−0.10, ∞) (P=0.11) for the distal leg and proximal thigh, respectively. Fat mtDNA copies/cell did not change with therapy. Improvements in neuropathic pain (P<0.01), paresthesias (P=0.01), and symptoms of numbness (P<0.01) were noted. Similarly, improvement was noted on the Gracely Pain Intensity Score.ConclusionsALC therapy coincided with improvements in subjective measures of pain in this open‐label single‐arm study. However, changes were not observed in objective measures of IENF density or mtDNA levels, providing little objective support for use of ALC in this setting.
Difference in drug resistance patterns between minor HIV‐1 populations in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma
Authors: Bergroth T , Ekici H , Gisslén M , Hagberg L , Sönnerborg A 
Published: January 2009

ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to determine to what extent unique drug resistance patterns appear in minor and major HIV‐1 quasispecies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) as compared with blood.Methods
Forty‐four plasma and CSF samples from 13 multi‐treatment‐experienced patients, seven of whom provided longitudinal samples, were included in the study. The subjects had failed antiretroviral therapy including lamivudine. The reverse transcriptase (RT) gene was examined by selective real‐time polymerase chain reaction (SPCR), which can detect M184I/V mutants down to 0.2% of the viral population.ResultsSPCR revealed differences at amino acid position 184 in the plasma/CSF populations in 12 paired samples from eight patients. One plasma sample was positive by SPCR where direct sequencing showed wild‐type M184. The other 11 paired samples showed quantitative differences in the mixed populations of the mutant or wild‐type M184 quasispecies. Differences in other resistance‐associated mutations between plasma and CSF viruses were also found by direct sequencing.ConclusionsIn multi‐treatment‐experienced patients with therapy failure, differences in drug resistance patterns were found frequently between plasma and CSF in both minor and major viral populations. To what extent this was a true biological phenomenon remains to be established, and the clinical relevance of these findings is yet to be determined.
Ignoring God Triune? The Doctrine of the Trinity in Dutch Theology
Authors: VAN DEN BRINK GIJSBERT , VAN ERP STEPHAN 
Published: January 2009

AbstractThis article presents an overview of Dutch trinitarian theology in the twentieth and twenty‐first centuries. It will become clear how and why leading Dutch theologians either ignored the doctrine, or used it for their own purposes, or uttered critical reservations regarding its sense and significance. After having reviewed the ways in which this majority of Dutch theologians has dealt with the doctrine, some notable constructive exceptions are explored. In conclusion, the authors raise the question as to Low Dutch theology might, starting from its own tradition, catch up with the recent international and inter‐denominational tendency towards a well‐developed trinitarian theology.