bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Two new mutations in the keratin 4 gene causing oral white sponge nevus in Chinese family
Authors: Zhang JM , Yang ZW , Chen RY , Gao P , Zhang YR , Zhang LF 
Published: December 2008

Objective:  We investigated white sponge nevus (WSN) in a Chinese family, and tried to find new mutation and demonstrated that this mutation is the causative mutation for WSN in this family and this condition affects a functionally important segment of the keratin 4 protein.Materials and methods:  We studied the affected family with the 32‐year‐old female patient, her mother, her younger sister and her daughter. Pathologic examinations were performed. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes, K4 and K13 genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced.Results:  Direct sequencing of PCR products revealed two new mutations in the keratin 4 gene, the heterozygous missense mutation 1829G→A in exon 2B, and 2324A→G in non‐coding region. No any mutation was found in the keratin 13 gene.Conclusions:  We found two new mutations in the keratin 4, which may be related with the development of WSN.
School‐based interventions to prevent overweight and obesity in prepubertal children: process and 4‐years outcome evaluation of the Kiel Obesity Prevention Study (KOPS)
Authors: Danielzik Sandra , Pust Svenja , Müller Manfred J. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAim: To evaluate the feasibility and 4‐year outcome of school‐based health promotion on overweight among 6–10‐year‐old children.Methods: Four‐year follow‐up data of 344 children participating in health promotion (I) as part of the Kiel Obesity Prevention Study (KOPS) at age 6 years, compared with 4‐year changes in 1420 non‐intervention children (NI). Nutritional knowledge was assessed before and 3 months after intervention in 1996 and 2004. Outcome was characterized compared to reference values for (i) BMI, (ii) triceps skinfold (TSF) and (iii) waist circumference (WC).Results: Process evaluation showed an increase in knowledge after intervention. However, the prevalence of children with good nutritional knowledge before intervention doubled from 1996 to 2004 but similar intervention‐induced increases in knowledge (+50%) were observed. When compared with NI I increased remission of overweight with no significant effect on incidence. The effect was most pronounced in girls. The effect was affected by definition of overweight: when compared with parameters of fat mass (TSF and WC), BMI was showing a stronger effect (remission in girls (Δ I – NI): BMI: +13.4%, TSF: +18.7%, WC: +20.7%).Conclusions: School‐based health promotion has sustainable effects on nutritional knowledge and remission of overweight being most pronounced in girls. The effect of intervention was most pronounced using TSF and WC as criteria of overweight.
Domperidone versus cisapride in the treatment of infant regurgitation and increased acid gastro‐oesophageal reflux: a pilot study
Authors: Hegar Badriul , Alatas Safira , Advani Najib , Firmansyah Agus , Vandenplas Yvan 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAim: Although domperidone is used frequently to treat infant regurgitation, efficacy data are scarce. Cisapride was previously used in the same indication.Methods: Domperidone and cisapride were compared in an investigator‐blinded, prospective comparative trial by evaluating (a) the frequency of regurgitation, (b) acid reflux and (c) cardiac side effects in infants regurgitating >4 times/day since >2 weeks and with reflux‐associated symptoms of discomfort, after conservative treatment failure.Results: Within the first treatment week, the frequency of regurgitation decreased in both groups, more rapidly in the cisapride group: the median regurgitation decreased from 6.22 to 3.50 in the cisapride group versus from 4.80 to 3.70 in the domperidone group. The decrease in regurgitation was still significant after 1 month: cisapride from 6.22 to 1.55 versus domperidone from 4.80 to 1.25. However, the natural decrease in the incidence of regurgitation induced by age should also be considered. The median reflux index decreased after 1 month in the cisapride group from 3.60 to 1.75 versus from 2.70 to 2.45 in the domperidone group. One child treated with cisapride developed a significant QT prolongation.Conclusion: The decrease in regurgitation was comparable in both groups, although acid reflux decreased more in the cisapride group. Cisapride induced QT prolongation in one infant.
Therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal encephalopathy: a UK survey of opinion, practice and neuro‐investigation at the end of 2007
Authors: Kapetanakis Andrew , Azzopardi Denis , Wyatt John , Robertson Nicola J 
Published: December 2008

AbstractBackground: The 2007 Cochrane review of therapeutic hypothermia for neonatal encephalopathy (NE) indicates a significant reduction in adverse outcome. UK National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines are awaited.Objective: To benchmark current opinion and practice to inform future strategies for optimal knowledge transfer for therapeutic hypothermia.Methods: A web based questionnaire (30 sections related to opinion and practice of management of NE) sent to the clinical leads of Level I, II and III neonatal units throughout the UK in November/December 2007.Results: One hundred and twenty‐five (out of 195) UK neonatal units responded (response rate 66%). Ten percent, 37.5% and 51.5% responses were from level I, II and III units respectively. Twenty eight percent of all units provided therapeutic hypothermia locally (52% of level III units), however 80% of responders would offer therapeutic hypothermia if there was the facility. Overall, 57% of responders considered therapeutic hypothermia effective or very effective – similar for all unit levels; 43% considered more data are required. Regional availability of therapeutic hypothermia exists in 55% of units and 41% of units offer transfer to a regional centre for therapeutic hypothermia.Conclusion: In the UK in 2007, access to therapeutic hypothermia was widespread although not universal. More than half of responders considered therapeutic hypothermia effective. Fifty‐five percent of perinatal networks have the facility to offer therapeutic hypothermia. The involvement of national bodies may be necessary to ensure the adoption of therapeutic hypothermia according to defined protocols and standards; registration is important and will help ensure universal neurodevelopmental follow up.
Cholangiocarcinoma in USA‐ versus Asian‐born Asians: Is viral hepatitis a factor?
Authors: HAMMILL Chet , WONG Linda L , CONCEPCION Jennifer , TSAI Naoky 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAim:  Though liver and biliary tract cancers are more common in Asian countries they are increasing in incidence in the USA. This study attempted to clarify the risk factor profile for immigrant Asians compared with the USA population.Methods:  A retrospective review was made of 128 cholangiocarcinoma cases presenting to a tertiary referral center from 1996–2007. Data were collected on patient characteristics, risk factors, tumor characteristics, treatment and survival. We then compared Asian immigrants (n = 40) to USA‐born Asians (n = 46).Results:  In our cohort, the mean age was 66.7 years, of whom 54% were men, 51% had cholelithiasis, 51% were smokers, 41% used alcohol, 10% had hepatitis C and 27% had hepatitis B. In four patients, one each had sclerosing cholangitis, liver flukes, choledochal cyst and previous biliary tract surgery. The distribution of tumors was as follows: 43 intrahepatic (ICC) and 85 extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) including 43 proximal, nine middle and 33 distal tumors. Immigrants were more likely to be younger (mean age 63 vs 70 years old) and to have ICC than ECC (50% vs 26%) and hepatitis B (46% vs 14%). There was no significant difference between groups in hepatitis C, smoking, alcohol, cholelithasis, resectability or survival.Conclusion:  Traditionally described risk factors for cholangiocarcinoma are not as evident in this largely Asian cohort. Asian immigrants were more likely to have ICC and have hepatitis B though whether hepatitis B is directly carcinogenic to the biliary tract is not clear. Immigrant status did not seem to have an effect on outcome from cholangiocarcinoma.
Simultaneous comparison of multiple molecules using tissue array analysis in the thyroid neoplasm
Authors: YAMADA Hiroko , HASEGAWA Yasuhisa , KOSHIKAWA Takashi , NAKASHIMA Tsutomu , YATABE Yasushi 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAim:  Differential diagnosis, including the respective distinctions between benign and malignant tumors, follicular and papillary neoplasms, and follicular adenoma and follicular carcinoma, are always required in clinical practice, because therapeutic strategy largely depends on the diagnosis made.Methods:  The present study describes a novel approach to obtaining clinically useful markers by means of the simultaneous comparison of multiple molecules using tissue array analysis. The markers examined in this study include galectin‐3, CD44v6, p53, HBME‐1, maspin and S100A4, which were reportedly useful for making these distinctions in association with metastasis and invasion. A total of 45 cases of thyroid tumors (seven adenomatous goiters, 16 follicular adenomas, 12 follicular carcinomas and 10 papillary carcinomas) were analyzed.Results:  The results demonstrated the following suggestive phenotypes: galectin‐3‐, HBME‐1‐ and maspin+ as benign lesions, galection‐3‐, HBME‐1+ and maspin‐ as follicular carcinoma, and galectin‐3+, HBME‐1+ and maspin+ as papillary carcinoma.Conclusions:  The expression of the molecules was assessed in each case and the expression profiles were compared. Useful multiple molecules were selected for each distinction and were correlated with each other. To understand the complex relationship, a logistic regression model was constructed. These results suggested that combined analysis of multiple molecules enhanced the differential diagnostic accuracy.
Predicting the response to targeted therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer
Authors: AZAD Arun , TEBBUTT Niall C 
Published: December 2008

AbstractColorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer‐related deaths in Australia. The median survival of metastatic colorectal cancer remains poor, but novel targeted therapies offer promise in improving patient outcomes. However, it is vital to identify which patients with metastatic colorectal cancer will benefit from targeted therapy. Predictive biomarkers offer significant benefit by refining the treatment population to a subgroup that has a greater prospect of benefit from therapy. This provides efficacy benefits, but also minimizes the overall toxicity and cost of treatment. In this review we examine current knowledge regarding predictive biomarkers for targeted agents in metastatic colorectal cancer, with a particular focus on emerging biomarkers such as oncogenic mutations. We also highlight issues that require further exploration in the quest for personalized therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer.
Consensus approaches to best practice management of gastrointestinal stromal tumors
Authors: ZALCBERG John R , DESAI Jayesh , MANN Bruce , FOX Stephen , GOLDSTEIN David , MCARTHUR Grant , CLARK Matthew , YIP Desmond 
Published: December 2008

AbstractGastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Progress in diagnosis has led to increased recognition of this disease, and the availability of effective, molecularly targeted therapy has revolutionised its management. Treatment of metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors with imatinib has led to unprecedented improvements in progression free and overall survival and there are ongoing investigations into the optimal pre‐operative and adjuvant use of imatinib. Second‐line sunitinib is now available for patients who develop resistance to imatinib, and third‐ and fourth‐line therapies are being investigated in clinical trials. In this ever‐changing environment, evidence from controlled clinical trials and the authors' experience were used to comprehensively outline current best practice management of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors.
Probability in Semantics
Authors: Cohen Ariel 
Published: December 2008

AbstractIn truth‐conditional theories of the semantics of natural language, the main tool used is logic. There are, however, cases where a probabilistic account is attractive. The role of probability can vary from complementing a truth‐conditional account to replacing it. In this article, I discuss three test cases of the use of probability in semantics: generics and frequency adverbs, vagueness, and conditionals. For each case, I examine the motivation for using probability and the role it plays in the theory.
Obese Cities: How Our Environment Shapes Overweight
Authors: Smith Dianna M. , Cummins Steven 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe rapid rise in obesity rates over the last 30 years has profound implications for the health of populations. That this rise has occurred over a relatively short biological time scale suggests that changes in the environments to which we are exposed may be to blame, rather than individual genetic endowment. Focusing on developed world nations, this article briefly reviews this emerging ‘ecological’ perspective in the search for the causes of obesity. This article explores how aspects of our environment might disrupt ‘energy balance’ through influencing food consumption and physical activity. It focuses on three hypothesised pathways for environmental risk: the organisation of built physical space, the social environment and the political environment. The article demonstrates that a consideration of scale and context are also important in the search for the environmental drivers of weight gain.
Institutions for Interstate Water Resources Management1
Authors: Mandarano Lynn A. , Featherstone Jeffrey P. , Paulsen Kurt 
Published: December 2008

Abstract: This paper evaluates alternative approaches to management of interstate water resources in the United States (U.S.), including interstate compacts, interstate associations, federal‐state partnerships, and federal‐interstate compacts. These governance structures provide alternatives to traditional federalism or U.S. Supreme Court litigation for addressing problems that transcend political boundaries and functional responsibilities. Interstate compacts can provide a forum for ongoing collaboration and are popular mechanisms for allocating water rights among the states. Federal‐interstate compacts, such as the Delaware River Basin Compact and federal‐state partnerships, such as the National Estuary Program, are also effective and complementary approaches to managing water resources. However, all of these approaches can only make modest improvements in managing water resources given the complicated and fragmented nature of our federalist system of government.
Economic benefits of standing forests in highland areas of Borneo: quantification and policy impacts
Authors: Naidoo Robin , Malcolm Trent , Tomasek Adam 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThere exist thousands of valuation studies for environmental goods and services, but the degree to which these have influenced policy is uncertain, especially in developing countries. Here, we demonstrate that a rapid assessment of the benefits of standing forests in the highlands of Borneo is feasible and can provide useful and timely information for conservation policy decisions. We used existing biophysical and economic information to characterize values associated with forests in areas proposed for oil palm plantation development. We focused on three classes of benefits: avoided damages associated with increased greenhouse gas emissions (carbon storage), avoided damages associated with increased fires, and the economic benefits of forest–agriculture mosaics. Carbon storage values dominated the overall value of standing forests and were of similar magnitude to benefits from oil palm plantations. Other values were smaller but nevertheless important to different stakeholder groups. We document how the results were used to influence the Indonesian government's policy on oil palm plantations in the highlands of Borneo. While we cannot quantify the precise policy impact of the valuation work, it appears to have played a role in the decision to shelve the oil palm project.
Hitting the target and missing the point: target‐based conservation planning in context
Authors: Carwardine Josie , Klein Carissa J. , Wilson Kerrie A. , Pressey Robert L. , Possingham Hugh P. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractConservation planning is often informed by quantitative targets: these are minimum amounts of the distribution of a species, vegetation type, or other biodiversity feature intended for protection. Targets are set for the global reserve system, and are also used at national and local levels to plan for both on‐ and off‐reserve conservation. Understandably, the conservation community holds a range of opinions about target‐based approaches to conservation planning. One school of thought is that the approach is inadequate, inflexible, and even counterproductive in many socioecological systems. We investigate the perceived limitations of target‐based conservation planning, and find that most have resulted from poor communication and misuse of targets, leading to misconceptions and misunderstandings. Here we put target‐based conservation planning in context by: (1) summarizing reported limitations of the approach and differentiating between those that are real and those that are misconceived; (2) identifying ways that some of the real limitations have, and can, be overcome, and (3) comparing target‐based conservation planning to alternative conservation prioritization approaches. We hope to stimulate further discussion that will guide and improve target‐based conservation planning.
Assisted colonization in a changing climate: a test‐study using two U.K. butterflies
Authors: Willis Stephen G. , Hill Jane K. , Thomas Chris D. , Roy David B. , Fox Richard , Blakeley David S. , Huntley Brian 
Published: December 2008

AbstractRecent climatic change in temperate regions has been rapid and there is mounting speculation that species are failing to keep track of suitable climate, perhaps necessitating assisted colonization for some species. An inability to spread into new areas may result in large reductions in species’ ranges in the future, and threaten the survival of some species. Here we use “species‐climate” models to predict suitable sites for introductions beyond current range margins, using two U.K. butterfly species. We introducedMelanargia galathea(marbled white) andThymelicus sylvestris(small skipper) into two sites in northern England, ∼65 and ∼35 km beyond their then‐range margins, respectively, to sites that were predicted to be climatically suitable and that appeared to contain suitable habitat for the species. Both introduced populations grew and expanded their range over 6 years (2001–2006; still thriving in 2008), suggesting the existence of a colonization lag and providing evidence that well‐planned assisted colonization can be successful. We suggest that assisted colonization may be a feasible and cost‐effective means of enabling certain species to track climatic change.
Evaluation of Plasma C‐Terminal Atrial Natriuretic Peptide in Healthy Cats and Cats with Heart Disease
Authors: Hori Y. , Yamano S. , Iwanaga K. , Kano T. , Tanabe M. , Uechi M. , Kanai K. , Nakao R. , Hoshi F. , Higuchi S. 
Published: December 2008

Background: The clinical implications of evaluating C‐terminal atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentration in cats are still controversial.Hypothesis: The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma C‐terminal ANP concentration and left atrial pressure (LAP) in healthy cats with volume overload (study 1), and to compare plasma C‐terminal ANP in normal cats and cats with cardiomyopathy (study 2).Animals: Five healthy adult cats were used in study 1, and clinically healthy cats (n=8) and cats with cardiomyopathy (n=14) were used in study 2.Methods: In study 1, cats were anesthetized and given acetated Ringer's solution (100 mL/kg/h for 60 minute) via the cephalic vein. Hemodynamic measurements and blood samples, collected from the jugular vein, were performed at 10‐min intervals. In study 2, blood samples from normal cats and cats with cardiomyopathy were collected from the cephalic vein. The plasma C‐terminal ANP concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay for human α‐ANP.Results: In study 1, volume overload significantly increased the C‐terminal ANP concentration and LAP from baseline. The C‐terminal ANP concentration was strongly correlated with the mean LAP. In study 2, age, E wave velocity, and the ratios of the left atrium to aorta were significantly higher in the cats with cardiomyopathy compared with the normal cats. The C‐terminal ANP concentration was significantly higher in the cats with cardiomyopathy compared with the normal cats.Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Our results suggest that the measurement of plasma C‐terminal ANP in cats may provide additional information for the diagnosis of heart disease.
Endocrine and Immunologic Effects of Inhaled Fluticasone Propionate in Healthy Dogs
Authors: Cohn L.A. , DeClue A.E. , Reinero C.R. 
Published: December 2008

Background:Inhaled glucocorticoids reduce airway inflammation while minimizing systemic effects in several species.Hypothesis:Inhaled fluticasone suppresses the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPAA), modifies immune function, and induces clinical signs to a lesser extent than PO‐administered prednisone in dogs.Animals:Seven healthy adult pet dogs.Methods:Dogs were randomized to 1 of 3 treatment groups in a crossover design: fluticasone propionate (220 μg actuation of a metered dose inhaler delivered via a spacer and mask, q12h), placebo (spacer and mask alone, q12h), or prednisone (1 mg/kg PO q24h). Each treatment was administered for 3 weeks followed by a 4‐week washout. Appetite, attitude, and water consumption were recorded during the last week of each treatment period. Urine cortisol : creatinine ratios, ACTH stimulation tests, white blood cell counts, lymphocyte phenotype, and serum IgM and IgA concentrations were recorded at each baseline and after the last day of each treatment. Clinical observations were expressed descriptively. Friedman's test was applied to all data comparisons. Pairwise comparisons were made with a mixed model analysis when data were normally distributed, whereas signed rank tests were used otherwise (significanceP‐value <.01).Results:Appetite and water consumption increased during prednisone treatment. Peak serum cortisol concentrations post‐ACTH were significantly decreased in prednisone‐ and fluticasone‐treated dogs compared with placebo (prednisone > fluticasone). Serum IgM concentrations were significantly decreased in dogs treated with prednisone.Conclusions and Clinical Importance:As used, fluticasone suppresses the HPAA to a lesser extent than prednisone and may avert systemic signs associated with PO‐administered glucocorticoids in dogs.