bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oxycodone hydrochloride controlled‐release tablets (OxyContin®): post‐marketing surveillance (PMS) study for relieving moderate to severe non‐cancer pain
Authors: Yuguang Huang , Bifa Fan , Wenxue Fang , Dongping Du , Hua Xu , Shengmei Zhu , Guodong Zhao , Meng Xu , Rongcheng Luo , Zhenhe Lu , Jianguo Xu , Jiaxiang Ni , Baosen Zheng , Wenge Song , Jian Lin , Jianjun Cui , Zhendong Chen 
Published: March 2008

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxycodone hydrochloride controlled‐release (CR) tablets (Oxycontin®, Mundipharma International Limited, Cambridge, UK), 5 mg, 10 mg, 20 mg, and 40 mg in relieving moderate to severe non‐cancer pain.Method: Two multi‐center, open‐label, prospective, self‐controlled clinical trial, used identical protocols. All the subjects were patients with moderate to severe non‐cancer pain. The clinical data were collected in the natural course of clinical treatment.Results: Treatments with oxycodone CR tablets was associated with fast onset on pain relief; 85.2% of patients in study 1 and 91.8% of patients in study 2 achieved pain relief within 1 hour of drug administration.Clinical efficacy: Both studies demonstrated that oxycodone CR tablets showed good clinical efficacy for relieving both moderate and severe non‐cancer pain. Patients experienced sustained pain relief from the first week of treatment. Patients in both study 1 and study 2 experienced a dramatic pain score reduction (as assessed by VAS) after the first week of treatment.Safety profile: During oxycodone CR treatment, use of concomitant medications decreased significantly. A few patients developed ADRs in the first week, which decreased significantly as the treatment continued. Constipation was the most common ADR in the first week, which decreased to 10% of patients from the second week of treatment.Conclusion: Oxycodone CR tablets demonstrated fast onset of pain control and superior efficacy for relieving both moderate and severe non‐cancer pain, as well as significant reductions in the number of concomitant medications, demonstrating a good safety profile.
Opioids in non‐cancer chronic pain
Authors: Cho Min‐Soo , Kim Min‐Soo , Kim Sang‐Woo , Kim Seong‐Ho 
Published: March 2008

The objective of this review is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxycodone administration for chronic non‐cancer pain. We have started to use oxycodone for 107 patients with intractable pain (mean NRS 7.8) not sufficiently relieved by other medical treatment from January 2004 to December 2005. The data were extracted by one independent investigator. The average pain duration was 13.7 (3‐46) months. The most common etiology of pain was spinal cord injury, followed by degenerative spine and failed back surgery syndrome, peripheral nerve injury, post‐herpetic neuralgia, spine fracture, spine infection, and post‐stroke pain.The average duration and dosage of oxycodone were 3.9 months and 30.6 mg/day. Seventeen (15.9%) patients reported their pain was not relieved with oxycodone. Less than 50% pain relief was seen in 19 (17.8%) patients and more than 50% pain relief in 56 (52.3%) patients. Four (3.7%) patients complained of lack of effectiveness but were still using it, and in 12 (11.2%) patients, the pain has been controlled with continuous use for over 12 months. It seemed to be less effective in post‐herpetic neuralgia and severe pain from spinal cord injury. There were no addiction problems with oxycodone. Side effects of oxycodone were not frequent and not life‐threatening. The most common adverse event was dizziness. Eleven (10.3%) patients refused to use it because of trouble with the drug rather than its effect.Oxycodone is a useful drug for the management of chronic non‐cancer pain.
The isomorphism conjecture for 3-manifold groups and K-theory of virtually poly-surface groups
Authors: Roushon Sayed K. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThis article has two purposes. In [15] we showed that the FIC (Fibered Isomorphism Conjecture for pseudoisotopy functor) for a particular class of 3-manifolds (we denoted this class by C) is the key to prove the FIC for 3-manifold groups in general. And we proved the FIC for the fundamental groups of members of a subclass of C. This result was obtained by showing that the double of any member of this subclass is either Seifert fibered or supports a nonpositively curved metric. In this article we prove that for any M ε C there is a closed 3-manifold P such that either P is Seifert fibered or is a nonpositively curved 3-manifold and π1(M) is a subgroup of π1(P). As a consequence it is obtained that the FIC is true for any B-group (see definition 4.2 in [15]). Therefore, the FIC is true for any Haken 3-manifold group and hence for any 3-manifold group (using the reduction theorem of [15]) provided we assume the Geometrization conjecture. The above result also proves the FIC for a class of 4-manifold groups (see [14]).The second aspect of this article is to relax a condition in the definition of strongly poly-surface group ([13]) and define a new class of groups (we call them weak strongly poly-surface groups). Then using the above result we prove the FIC for any virtually weak strongly poly-surface group. We also give a corrected proof of the main lemma of [13].
The prevalence, intensity and viability of hydatid cysts in slaughtered animals in the Ardabil province of Northwest Iran
Authors: Daryani A. , Alaei R. , Arab R. , Sharif M. , Dehghan M.H. , Ziaei H. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn a cross-sectional study, a total of 5381 slaughtered animals, namely 928 cattle, 243 buffaloes, 3765 sheep and 445 goats were inspected macroscopically for hydatid cysts in northwest Iran, with prevalence values of 38.3%, 11.9%, 74.4% and 20%, respectively, being recorded. Prevalences were higher in females compared with males, but a significant difference (P < 0.001) was only found in sheep and cattle. Most cases which were condemned were seen in the lungs of sheep (13.4%) indicating that sheep are the most important intermediate hosts for Echinococcus granulosus in this area.
Gill monogeneans of the chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus from Madeiran waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal
Authors: Costa G. , Freitas N. , Dellinger T.H. , MacKenzie K. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractFive species of monogeneans were recovered from the gill filaments of 181 chub mackerel, Scomber japonicus, from the Madeiran waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Portugal, during 2004/2005. The monogenean Pseudokuhnia minor showed the highest prevalence (98.68%) and a mean intensity of 28.23, followed by Kuhnia scombri (prevalence of 43.71% and mean intensity of 2.69) and K. scombercolias (prevalence of 39.1% and a mean intensity of 1.81). Kuhnia sprostonae and Grubea cochlear were rare, occurring in only one and five fish hosts respectively. No correlation between fish host length and mean intensity of infection with the three most abundant monogeneans was found. However, significant differences in prevalence and abundance were found in relation to date of sampling for P. minor, and all parasites were aggregated in their distribution.
Helminth communities of four commercially important fish species from Chetumal Bay, Mexico
Authors: Aguirre-Macedo M.L. , Vidal-Martínez V.M. , González-Solís D. , Caballero P.I. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractThe relative importance of ecology and evolution as factors determining species richness and composition of the helminth communities of fish is a matter of current debate. Theoretical studies use host–parasite lists, but these do not include studies on a temporal or spatial scale. Local environmental conditions and host biological characteristics are shown to influence helminth species richness and composition in four fish species (Eugerres plumieri, Hexanematichthys assimilis, Oligoplites saurus, and Scomberomorus maculatus) in Chetumal Bay, Mexico. With the exception of H. assimilis, the helminth communities had not been previously studied and possible associations between environmental and host biological characteristics as factors determining helminth species richness and composition using redundancy analysis (RDA) are described. Thirty-four helminth species are identified, with the highest number of species (19 total (mean = 6.3 ± 2.1)) and the lowest (9 (4.0 ± 1.0)) occurring in H. assimilis and S. maculatus, respectively. The larval nematodes Contracaecum sp. and Pseudoterranova sp. were not only the helminth species shared by all four host species but also were the most prevalent and abundant. Statistical associations between helminth community parameters and local ecological variables such as host habitat use, feeding habits, mobility, and time of residence in coastal lagoons are identified. Phylogeny is important because it clearly separates all four host species by their specialist parasites, although specific habitat and feeding habits also significantly influence the differentiation between the four fish species.
The morphology of the filaroid nematodeSetaria tundra,the cause of peritonitis in reindeerRangifer tarandus
Authors: Nikander S. , Laaksonen S. , Saari S. , Oksanen A. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractIn Finland during 2003–2005, large numbers of nematodes, tentatively identified asSetariasp., were observed in the peritoneal cavity of reindeerRangifer tarandusduring a peritonitis outbreak associated with poor body condition. The morphology of worms recovered from slaughtered reindeer is described based on light and scanning electron microscopy. Worms were confirmed as belonging to the superfamily Filarioidea by the presence of microfilariae-producing females and the size and the shape of the male spicules. Further classification to the genusSetariawas based on the location of worms in the peritoneal cavity and the morphology of spicules and the peribuccal crown. The present measurements correlate with those in the description ofSetaria tundraby Rajewsky (1929) and only minor differences were present compared with descriptions of key parts of identification ofS. yehifrom the American white-tailed deerOdocoileus virginianusand mule deerO. hemionus. Current morphological findings support our earlier studies employing a polymerase chain reaction and confirm the occurrenceS. tundrain reindeer in Finland.
Toxocara catiinfections in stray cats in northern Iran
Authors: Sharif M. , Nasrolahei M. , Ziapour S. P. , Gholami S. , Ziaei H. , Daryani A. , Khalilian A. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA cross-sectional survey was undertaken to study the prevalence and intensity of infection withToxocara catiin 100 stray cats, from April to October 2004 in urban areas of Sari, northern Iran. A total of 44 cats (44%) were found to be infected withT. cati. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of infection relative to host age and weight (P = 0.000). There was also a significant difference in the intensity of infection relative to body weight and urban sites (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between the prevalence of infection relative to host gender, urban sites and season (P>0.05), nor in the intensity of infection between host gender, age and season (P>0.05). The intensity of infection ranged from 1 to 32 worms per cat, with a mean of 7.30 ± 6.82.
Faecal egg output and herbage contamination with infective larvae of species ofOstertagiaandOesophagostomumfrom naturally infected farmed sika deerCervus nipponin Lithuania
Authors: Šarkūnas M. , Veličkaitė S. , Bružinskaitė R. , Malakauskas A. , Petkevičius S. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractFaecal egg outputs and subsequent herbage larval contamination with third stage larvae (L3) ofOstertagiaspp. andOesophagostomumspp. from a herd of naturally infected sika deerCervus nipponwere examined in the same pasture in 2001/2002 in Lithuania. Sika deer were infected withOstertagia circumcincta,O. kolchida,O. spiculoptera,Oesophagostomum radiatum,O. columbianumandO. venulosum. Faecal egg output in adult deer peaked in the spring during the periparturient period and also in late August, compared with a peak in egg output in calves during September to November. Herbage contamination with L3 ofOstertagiaspp. peaked in June but larvae were not present on pastures from the end of September. Hence the highest risk of infection was in early born calves grazed on pastures in July. Infective larvae ofOesophagostomumspp. did not survive during the winter, but the nematodes were reintroduced onto the pastures by adult deer in the spring.
Classes and crossreactivity of proteinases in the excretory–secretory products of Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Nic an Ultaigh S. , Ryan M.F. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractProteinases released during the in vitro maintenance of asynchronous cultures of the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans were characterized on the basis of subunit composition, fluorogenic substrate specificity, inhibitor sensitivity and pH optima. Cysteine proteinases are present in the excretory–secretory products (ESP) as indicated by the hydrolysis of cathepsin fluorogenic substrates and confirmed by immunoblotting. Serine proteinases were predominant as indicated by substrate gel analysis and inhibitor studies. The presence of metallo-proteinases was also indicated by inhibitor studies. The optimal pH value for cysteine proteinases was 5.5, while serine proteinases were optimal at pH 8.0. As a control, cultures of Escherichia coli, the diet of C. elegans, were extracted separately and gave no evidence of overlap with C. elegans ESP. Cross reactivity between the ESP of C. elegans and antibodies raised against the ESP of the equine parasite Strongylus vulgaris indicated antigenic relatedness of a proteic epitope. This is the first study to characterize the ESP of C. elegans and to display its relatedness with that of S. vulgaris.
Trematode infections in freshwater snails and cattle from the Kafue wetlands of Zambia during a period of highest cattle–water contact
Authors: Phiri A.M. , Phiri I. K. , Chota A. , Monrad J. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractA total of 984 snails, comprising nine species, were collected from six areas in the Kafue wetlands between August and October 2003 to assess larval trematode infections. Of these, 135 (13.7%) were positive. Most trematode infections were recorded from Lymnaea natalensis (42.8%), which harboured four of the five morphologically different cercariae found. No trematodes were recovered from Bellamya capillata, Biomphalaria pfeifferi, Melanoides tuberculata, Physa acuta and Cleopatra nswendweensis. One snail (0.2%) of 416 Bulinus snails shed brevifurcate-apharyngeate distome cercariae while three (0.7%) shed amphistomes. Gymnocephalous and longifurcate-pharyngeate distome were the commonest types of cercariae recorded while xiphidiocercaria was the least common. The highest prevalence rates of F. gigantica (68.8%) and amphistomes (50.0%) in cattle (n = 101) were in Chiyasa while those in Kaleya had the lowest (9.1 and 18.2%, respectively). In most habitats, infections were recorded in both cattle and snails. Critical determinants of infection may have been the distance of settlements and/or cattle kraals, the number of animals in nearby homesteads and the presence of susceptible host snails. This study suggests that fascioliasis and amphistomiasis could be major constraints of cattle production in the Kafue wetlands because favourable factors were available to introduce and maintain the infections. It further provides a starting point for some comprehensive studies on snail-related aspects of transmission and snail host ecology in Zambia.
The Voluntary Sector in a Social Democratic Welfare State–The Case of Sweden
Authors: LUNDSTRÖM TOMMY , SVEDBERG LARS 
Published: March 2008

The purpose of the paper is to capture a few vital features of the Swedish voluntary sector and to place them in an international perspective. The size and composition of the Swedish voluntary sector are discussed against the background of dominating theories in voluntary sector research. Special attention is also given to the role of the sector in the field of social welfare.The authors present results from comparative research projects on the voluntary sector carried out in the latter part of the 1990s. It is shown that the size of the Swedish sector is as large as in other industrialised countries, although the composition and the form of the sector differs when compared to many other countries.In weighing the importance of the sector, the authors point out that voluntary organizations make a crucial contribution in certain areas and combining work for interest and values with contributions for members and others. The characteristics of voluntary organizations and new trends within the field of social welfare are presented with the help of three ideal types.Finally, the authors discuss some conceivable scenarios for the future of the Swedish voluntary sector.
The implications of today's family structures for support giving to older parents
Authors: STUIFBERGEN MARIA C. , VAN DELDEN JOHANNES J. M. , DYKSTRA PEARL A. 
Published: March 2008

ABSTRACTThere is considerable debate about the effects of today's family structures on support arrangements for older people. Using representative data from The Netherlands, the study reported in this paper investigates which socio-demographic characteristics of adult children and their elderly parents, and which motivations of the adult children, correlate with children giving practical and social support to their parents. The findings indicate that the strongest socio-demographic correlates of a higher likelihood of giving support were: having few siblings, having a widowed parent without a new partner and, for practical support, a short geographical distance between the parent's and child's homes. Single mothers were more likely to receive support than mothers with partners, irrespective of whether their situation followed divorce or widowhood. Widowed fathers also received more support, but only with housework. A good parent-child relationship was the most important motivator for giving support, whereas subscribing to filial obligation norms was a much weaker motivator, especially for social support. Insofar as demographic and cultural changes in family structures predict a lower likelihood of support from children to elderly parents, this applies to practical support, and derives mainly from increased geographical separation distances and from the growing trend for parents to take new partners. Social support is unlikely to be affected by these changes if parents and children maintain good relationships.
Modulation of sensory neuron potassium conductances by anandamide indicates roles for metabolites
Authors: Evans R M , Wease K N , MacDonald C J , Khairy H A , Ross R A , Scott R H 
Published: March 2008

Background and purpose: The endogenous cannabinoid anandamide (AEA) acts at cannabinoid (CB1) and vanilloid (TRPV1) receptors. AEA also shows antinociceptive properties; although the underlying mechanism for this is not fully understood, both CB1 and TRPV1 may be involved. Voltage‐activated Ca2+ channels in rat‐cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons are modulated by AEA. However, AEA in different populations of neurons enhanced or attenuated KCl‐evoked Ca2+ influx; these effects were linked with soma size. The aim of this study was to determine how AEA or its metabolites might produce these variable responses.Experimental approach: The whole cell patch‐clamp technique and fura‐2 Ca2+ imaging were used to characterize the actions of AEA on action potential firing and voltage‐activated K+ currents and to determine whether AEA metabolism plays any role in its effects on cultured DRG neurons.Key results: AEA attenuated multiple action potential firing evoked by 300 ms depolarizing current commands in a subpopulation of DRG neurons. Application of 1 μM AEA attenuated voltage‐activated K+ currents and the recovery of KCl‐evoked Ca2+ transients. The insensitivity of these responses to the CB1 receptor antagonist rimonabant (100 nM) and preincubation of DRG neurons with pertussis toxin suggested that these actions are not CB1 receptor‐mediated. Preincubating DRG neurons with the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride (PMSF) attenuated the inhibitory actions of AEA on K+ currents and Ca2+ influx.Conclusion and implications: These data suggest that the products of AEA metabolism by FAAH contribute to the attenuation of K+ conductances and altered excitability of cultured sensory neurons.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 154, 480–492; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.93; published online 31 March 2008
Neuropeptide S is a stimulatory anxiolytic agent: a behavioural study in mice
Authors: Rizzi A , Vergura R , Marzola G , Ruzza C , Guerrini R , Salvadori S , Regoli D , Calo G 
Published: March 2008

Background and purpose:Neuropeptide S (NPS) was recently identified as the endogenous ligand of an orphan receptor, now referred to as the NPS receptor. In vivo, NPS produces a unique behavioural profile by increasing wakefulness and exerting anxiolytic‐like effects. In the present study, we further evaluated the effects of in vivo supraspinal NPS in mice.Experimental approach:Effects of NPS, injected intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.), on locomotor activity (LA), righting reflex (RR) recovery and on anxiety states (measured with the elevated plus maze (EPM) and stress‐induced hyperthermia (SIH) tests) were assessed in Swiss mice.Key results:NPS (0.01–1 nmol per mouse) caused a significant increase in LA in naive mice, in mice habituated to the test cages and in animals sedated with diazepam (5 mg kg−1). In the RR assay, NPS dose dependently reduced the proportion of animals losing the RR in response to diazepam (15 mg kg−1) and their sleeping time. In the EPM and SIH test, NPS dose dependently evoked anxiolytic‐like effects by increasing the time spent by animals in the open arms and reducing the SIH response, respectively.Conclusions and implications:We provide further evidence that NPS acts as a novel modulator of arousal and anxiety‐related behaviours by promoting a unique pattern of effects: stimulation associated with anxiolysis. Therefore, NPS receptor ligands may represent innovative drugs for the treatment of sleep and anxiety disorders.British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 154, 471–479; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.96; published online 31 March 2008