bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pancreatic cancer in England and Wales 1975–2000: patterns and trends in incidence, survival and mortality
Authors: WOOD H. E. , GUPTA S. , KANG J. Y. , QUINN M. J. , MAXWELL J. D. , MUDAN S. , MAJEED A. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryBackground Rates and time trends in mortality from pancreatic cancer vary considerably between countries.Aim To examine trends and patterns in the incidence of, and the survival and mortality from, pancreatic cancer in England and Wales from 1975 to 2000; in particular, whether incidence and survival rates are related to socio‐economic deprivation.Methods We calculated annual age‐specific and overall age‐standardized incidence and mortality rates by sex for pancreatic cancer in total, and by subsite. We also estimated survival by sex and age group and by subsite.Results In males, the age‐standardized rate fluctuated in the late 1970s, to peak at 13.0 per 100 000 in 1979, declined steadily by an average of 1.3% per year to around 10.3 per 100 000 in the mid‐1990s and then levelled off. For females, the rate peaked at 8.4 per 100 000 in the late 1980s before declining and fluctuating around 7.7 per 100 000 in the late 1990s. Patterns and trends in mortality rates were closely similar to those in incidence, due to the very low survival rates: only 2–3% at 5 years from diagnosis. Survival rates improved only minimally over the period 1971–99. Incidence and mortality rates were slightly higher in both males and females living in the most deprived areas, but survival was not consistently related to socio‐economic deprivation.Conclusions The incidence of, and mortality from, pancreatic cancer in England and Wales have fallen from peak levels observed in the 1970s and 1980s, and levelled off in the 1990s for both sexes; survival rates remain very low.
Review article: predicting response in hepatitis C virus therapy
Authors: MIHM U. , HERRMANN E. , SARRAZIN C. , ZEUZEM S. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryThe introduction of combination therapy with ribavirin and of pegylated interferons has improved treatment results in patients with chronic hepatitis C. However, overall rates of sustained virologic response following antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis C still do not exceed 54–63%. Because of several virus‐ and patient‐related factors, treatment is even less successful in some patient subpopulations.The major viral factors associated with impaired response are hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection and a high viral load. Among patient‐related factors cirrhosis is of special importance. Baseline predictive factors for sustained virologic response become less important for prediction of treatment outcome when quantifications of hepatitis C virus RNA during early therapy are taken into account.This article provides a summary of virus‐ and patient‐related parameters, which are prognostic for response to antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C and focuses on the prediction of treatment response by quantification of hepatitis C virus RNA concentration during therapy.
Intragastric acid control in non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug users: comparison of esomeprazole, lansoprazole and pantoprazole
Authors: GOLDSTEIN J. L. , MINER P. B. , SCHLESINGER P. K. , LIU S. , SILBERG D. G. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryBackground  Studies to date have not directly compared the pharmacodynamic efficacies of different proton pump inhibitors in controlling intragastric acidity in patients treated with non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs.Aim  To compare acid suppression with once‐daily esomeprazole 40 mg, lansoprazole 30 mg and pantoprazole 40 mg in patients receiving non‐selective or cyclo‐oxygenase‐2–selective non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug therapy.Methods  In this multicentre, open‐label, comparative, three‐way crossover study, adult patients (n = 90) receiving non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs were randomized to one of six treatment sequences. At the study site, patients were administered esomeprazole 40 mg, lansoprazole 30 mg and pantoprazole 40 mg for 5 days each, with a washout period of ≥10 days between each treatment. Twenty‐four–hour pH testing was performed on day 5 of each dosing period.Results  The mean percentage of time during the 24‐h pH monitoring period that gastric pH was >4.0 was significantly greater with esomeprazole (74.2%) compared with lansoprazole (66.5%; P < 0.001) and pantoprazole (60.8%; P < 0.001), and significantly greater with esomeprazole (P < 0.05) than with the comparators regardless of whether using non‐selective vs. cyclo‐oxygenase‐2–selective non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs.Conclusions  At the doses studied, esomeprazole treatment provides significantly greater gastric acid suppression than lansoprazole or pantoprazole in patients receiving non‐selective or cyclo‐oxygenase‐2–selective non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs.
Polyethylene glycol 4000 vs. lactulose for the treatment of neurogenic constipation in myelomeningocele children: a randomized‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: RENDELI C. , AUSILI E. , TABACCO F. , FOCARELLI B. , PANTANELLA A. , DI ROCCO C. , GENOVESE O. , FUNDARÒ C. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryAim  To compare the therapeutic effectiveness and tolerability of low daily doses of polyethylene glycol 4000 vs. lactulose in the treatment of neurogenic constipation in children with myelomeningocele.Methods  Sixty‐seven children with chronic neurogenic constipation were randomized allocated to receive either polyethylene glycol 4000 (0.50 g/kg) or lactulose (1.5 g/kg) for 6 months. Patients or their parents reported frequency and modality of evacuation and side effects on a diary card. Primary outcome was bowel frequency ≥3/week, and the second one was side effects at the end of treatment.Results  Complete remission of constipation was reported by a significantly (P < 0.01) higher number of patients treated with polyethylene glycol compared with lactulose. At the end of the study, 46% patients of polyethylene glycol group and 22% of the lactulose group were asymptomatic. Compared with lactulose, patients treated with polyethylene glycol reported higher bowel frequency (5.1 vs. 2.9 bowel movements/week, P < 0.01) and reduction of encopresis. Neither lactulose nor polyethylene glycol caused clinically‐significant serious side effects and palatability was similar.Conclusions  Polyethylene glycol 4000 compared with lactulose provided a higher success rate, without significant side effects, for the treatment of constipation in myelomeningocele children.
Meta‐analysis: the dialysis mode and immunological response to hepatitis B virus vaccine in dialysis population
Authors: FABRIZI F. , DIXIT V. , BUNNAPRADIST S. , MARTIN P. 
Published: March 2006

Summary
Background  Patients on maintenance dialysis typically show a suboptimal immune response to hepatitis B virus vaccine compared with the non‐uraemic population. Some authors have claimed that dialysis mode has an impact on the immune response to hepatitis B virus vaccine but consistent information is lacking on this issue.Aim  To evaluate the relationship between dialysis mode and immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in dialysis population by performing a systematic review with a meta‐analysis of clinical trials.Method  We used the random effects model of DerSimonian and Laird; sources of heterogeneity in effect estimates were explored by performing sensitivity analyses.Results  The relative risk of failure to respond to hepatitis B vaccine among patients who underwent maintenance haemodialysis vs. peritoneal dialysis was the end point of interest. We identified 14 clinical trials involving 1211 unique patients on maintenance dialysis. Pooling of study results did not show a significant decreased risk of response to hepatitis B vaccine among haemodialysis patients (overall risk ratio: 1.0, 95% confidence intervals: 0.92–1.1). The P‐value was 0.13 for our test of study heterogeneity.Conclusion  There is no significant link between dialysis mode and seroresponse to hepatitis B virus vaccine in dialysis population.
Antibiotic treatment of Crohn's disease: results of a multicentre, double blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial with rifaximin
Authors: PRANTERA C. , LOCHS H. , CAMPIERI M. , SCRIBANO M. L. , STURNIOLO G. C. , CASTIGLIONE F. , COTTONE M. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryBackground  Clinicians often employ antibiotics in Crohn's disease. Rifaximin is active against bacteria frequently found in the intestinal mucosa of Crohn's disease patients.Aim  To evaluate the difference in efficacy between once and twice/daily oral administration of rifaximin and placebo in the treatment of active Crohn's disease.Methods  We enrolled 83 patients with mild‐to‐moderate Crohn's disease and randomized to three treatments for 12 weeks: Group A (rifaximin 800 mg o.d. + placebo), Group B (rifaximin 800 mg b.d.) and Group C (placebo b.d.).Results  Clinical remission was achieved by 52% of Group B, 32% (A) and 33% (C). Clinical response was seen in 67% (B), 48% (A) and 41% (C), without reaching a statistically significant difference. Treatment failures were: 4% (B), 12% (A) and 33% (C), (P = 0.010). Remission and response rates of rifaximin 800 mg b.d. were significantly higher than those of placebo and rifaximin 800 mg o.d. in patients with elevated C reactive protein values (P < 0.05).Conclusions  Rifaximin 800 mg b.d. was superior to placebo in inducing clinical remission of active Crohn's disease. Although this difference was not statistically significant, the number of the failures in the placebo group was significantly higher than those who received rifaximin 800 mg b.d.
Assessing patients’ understanding of hepatitis C virus infection and its impact on their lifestyle
Authors: FABRIS P. , TOSITTI G. , GIORDANI M. T. , BALDO V. , GRASSO A. , PIGNATTARI E. , CANTON S. , ROSSATO S. , FLOREANI A. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryAims  To assess how much patients with hepatitis C virus infection know about their condition and what impact it has on their lifestyle.Materials and methods  A multiple‐choice questionnaire was administered anonymously to 364 hepatitis C virus‐infected subjects just before their first specialist visit.Results  Even before hepatitis C virus infection was diagnosed, 257 subjects (70.6%) already knew something about this infection. Overall, 36% of patients had changed the way they behaved within the family, 25.5% had changed their sexual habits, 46.9% had changed their diet, and 69% reported having stopped or limited their alcohol intake after being told they were hepatitis C virus positive. Hepatitis C virus infection had a negative impact on the psychological status in 44.2% of patients. This effect was significantly greater among women and was independent of either the duration of their infection or any counselling received from the general practitioner. The need for specific treatment was reported by 59.8%. A demand for more detailed information about hepatitis C virus was expressed by 89.9% of patients.Conclusions  Hepatitis C virus changes all aspects of lifestyle and psychological status. The patients’ strong demand for more information suggests that counselling and educational programmes must be an integral part of the activities of both the general practitioner and the specialist.
Effect of anti‐viral therapy for occult hepatitis C virus infection
Authors: PARDO M. , LÓPEZ‐ALCOROCHO J. M. , CASTILLO I. , RODRÍGUEZ‐IÑIGO E. , PEREZ‐MOTA A. , CARREÑO V. 
Published: March 2006

SummaryBackground  Occult hepatitis C virus infection is defined by the presence of hepatitis C virus‐RNA in liver but with undetectable anti‐hepatitis C virus and serum viral RNA.Aim  To study the response to anti‐viral therapy in occult hepatitis C virus infection to assess the pathogenic effect of occult hepatitis C virus.Methods  Ten patients with occult hepatitis C virus infection were treated with pegylated‐interferon plus ribavirin for 24 weeks and were followed‐up 24 weeks after therapy. All patients had abnormal alanine aminotransferase, hepatitis C virus‐RNA positive in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and liver necroinflammation.Results  At the end of treatment and follow‐up, the percentage of patients with normal alanine aminotransferase was 80% (95% CI: 48–96%) and 60% (95% CI: 31–84%) respectively, and hepatitis C virus‐RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was negative in 80% (95% CI: 48–96%) and 70% (95% CI: 40–90%) cases. At the end of follow‐up sustained response was observed in 30% (95% CI: 11–61%) of cases. Five patients underwent a second liver biopsy. In all cases, liver hepatitis C virus‐RNA persisted, although hepatitis C virus‐RNA load was significantly lower (3.2 × 104 ± 5.1 × 104 copies/μg RNA) than in the basal biopsy (2.4 × 105 ± 3.8 × 105 copies/μg RNA); (P = 0.043). Necroinflammation and fibrosis decreased in three cases.Conclusion  The biochemical, virological and histological response to therapy achieved in patients with occult hepatitis C virus infection demonstrates the pathologic effects of occult hepatitis C virus.
Evaluating upwelling estimates off the west coasts of North and South America
Authors: PICKETT MARK H. , SCHWING FRANKLIN B. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractBoth low‐ and high‐resolution studies of wind and upwelling were conducted off the west coasts of North and South America between August 1999 and December 2001. For the low‐resolution study, done at 25 regional sites spanning both coasts, weekly mean winds were calculated from satellite measurements, from geostrophic estimates, and from an operational 100‐km‐resolution global atmospheric model. The satellite‐measured winds, used as the reference, showed that the coastal regions of both North and South America were divided into fairly uniform climatic domains located at higher, mid, and lower latitudes. All three weekly‐mean wind data sets were compared at each of the 25 sites, and then used to estimate upwelling based on the method employed by NOAA's Pacific Fisheries Environmental Laboratory. Within each of the wind domains, model‐derived wind and upwelling estimates agreed with satellite‐derived values better than those from geostrophic‐derived estimates. To investigate variability between the regional sites, a 9‐km‐resolution atmospheric model was run for an area off California which spanned four of the regional sites. This high‐resolution model, verified with satellite measurements, revealed jets of wind curving and intensifying around coastal promontories. These near‐shore wind jets, undetected in the global model, resulted in strong upwelling bands on the order of 50 km alongshore by 20 km offshore. These bands are critical for calculating local upwelling. Our results indicate that regional upwelling estimates for fisheries research can be improved by replacing geostrophic estimates of winds with those from a global atmospheric model. For localized coastal upwelling estimates, however, models with resolution an order of magnitude higher are required.
Antibodies targeting p63 react specifically in the cytoplasm of breast epithelial cells exhibiting secretory differentiation
Authors: Bratthauer G L , Saenger J S , Strauss B L 
Published: March 2006

Aims : The nuclear detection of p63 in myoepithelial cells of the breast has been useful in identifying possibly invasive carcinomas. While examining myoepithelial cells for p63 a very strong cytoplasmic reaction product was noted in secretory cells. The aim was to determine whether this reaction is specific for p63 and indicative of all breast secretory cells.Methods : Thirty breast specimens were tested immunohistochemically for p63 protein. These included seven with benign secretory changes, 10 secretory carcinomas (nine invasive), one microglandular adenosis, three lobular neoplasias, four invasive ductal carcinomas, three clear cell carcinomas, one squamous cell carcinoma and one mucinous carcinoma.Results : Only cells exhibiting secretory changes or secretory carcinoma were cytoplasmically reactive for p63. The positive reaction was also present as an intraluminal secretory product. This reaction was not seen in cells undergoing apocrine differentiation or in other cells containing secretory vacuoles.Conclusions : Cells with secretory changes contain p63 protein or an antigenic equivalent. The detection of p63 protein continues to have considerable value for the identification of myoepithelial cells and thus the determination of invasion, but will also have value in the determination of secretory carcinomas of the breast and in understanding their development.
Angiogenic potential of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of human breast
Authors: Vogl G , Dietze O , Hauser‐Kronberger C 
Published: March 2006

Aims : Comedo carcinoma is generally regarded as the subtype of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) most likely to progress to invasive carcinoma. Increased angiogenesis could be associated with an enhanced risk of progression and might therefore be a marker of poor prognosis, as can be demonstrated for invasive breast tumours. Therefore, the present study investigates the correlations between the expression of oncoproteins (HER2, HER1/EGFR), angiogenic growth factors (VEGF and PD‐ECGF/TP) and microvessel density (MVD) in DCIS.Methods and results : Forty‐six breast cancer specimens of DCIS were tested immunohistochemically for the expression of angiogenic factors and oncoproteins. Different vascular distribution patterns of DCIS were examined semiquantitatively. Our results showed a significantly inverse correlation between HER1/EGFR and comedo‐type DCIS (P = 0.048), but HER1/EGFR expression seemed to be independent of HER2 overexpression. VEGF expression was significantly associated with endoglin expression (P = 0.031) and the cuffing phenomenon (P = 0.017).Conclusions : The significantly inverse correlation between HER1/EGFR and comedo‐type DCIS and the observation that VEGF and the other angiogenic factors tested are independent of HER2 overexpression, suggest that progression of comedo‐type DCIS and angiogenesis in breast carcinoma are not regulated via the HER1/EGFR or HER2 pathway.
Decreased annexin I expression in prostatic adenocarcinoma and in high‐grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia
Authors: Patton K T , Chen H M , Joseph L , Yang X J 
Published: March 2006

Aims : To analyse annexin I expression in prostatic carcinoma. Annexin I belongs to a family of structurally related calcium and phospholipid‐binding proteins implicated in signal transduction, DNA replication, cell proliferation and apoptosis. The decreased expression of annexin I, II and VII proteins has been reported in different types of cancer.Methods and results : Using immunohistochemistry, we analysed annexin I expression in 77 cases of prostatic adenocarcinoma (Gleason score 6, N = 40; Gleason scores 7–8, N = 27; and Gleason scores 9–10, N = 10) and high‐grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN, N = 50). Immunoreactivity of annexin I in tumour cells was evaluated as negative (< 5% of cells), focally positive (5–25% of cells) or positive (> 25% of cells). In contrast to positive staining in adjacent benign prostatic epithelium, annexin I expression was decreased (focally positive) in 76% of cases of high‐grade PIN (P < 0.0001) and was decreased or absent in 81% of prostatic adenocarcinomas (P < 0.0001). Annexin I expression in all higher grade tumours (Gleason scores 7–10) was only focally positive or absent.Conclusions : Expression of annexin I inversely correlates with the increasing histological grade of prostatic adenocarcinoma. By showing a progressive loss of annexin I expression in high‐grade PIN, intermediate‐grade and high‐grade cancer, our findings suggest that the loss of annexin I expression occurs early in prostatic tumorigenesis and becomes more prominent throughout tumour progression. The loss of expression of annexin I may serve as a useful marker of prostate cancer development and progression.
Seasonal life‐history models for the integrated management of the invasive weed nodding thistle Carduus nutans in Australia
Authors: SHEA KATRIONA , SHEPPARD ANDY , WOODBURN TIM 
Published: March 2006

Summary

It is widely accepted that combining several control options into integrated pest management strategies is the most effective way to provide long‐term suppression of pest populations. However, full factorial field trials of all single and integrated control options for a pest species would be prohibitively expensive and time consuming. Methods to allow triage of the huge array of management options would be of great value in streamlining the decision‐making process.
We present a seasonally structured, individual‐based model, specifically designed to compare and rank detailed management strategies for a noxious pasture weed. The model structure is determined in part by the demographic data available, and in part by the management options under consideration. The case study is for nodding thistle Carduus nutans in Australia. Eight years of demographic data, for more than 8000 mapped plants, were used to parameterize the model, which is age‐, size‐ and density‐dependent and incorporates individual variation. Management options for this plant include three biocontrol agents, as well as conventional herbicide and grazing management strategies, which can be used alone or in a variety of combinations. Data on management impacts were drawn from multiple studies.
The model predicts that the root‐crown weevil Trichosirocalus mortadelo will more effectively suppress weed populations than either of the two flowerhead‐feeding insect agents Urophora solstitialis and Rhinocyllus conicus. Crash grazing (up to four times the regular grazing pressure) in any single season, or when most effectively applied across spring and summer, is less effective than T. mortadelo, while combinations of crash grazing and biocontrol agents strongly decrease weed population persistence. However, lethal herbicide is the best single strategy, while spring spray–grazing (a combination of non‐lethal herbicide and grazing) is the best integrated weed management strategy.
Synthesis and applications. The model is structured by, and serves to integrate, available information on demography and management from multiple sources. The subset of strategies that performed well forms the focus for fewer, more thorough, field trials. The decision‐making approach illustrated here is also applicable to any species and any array of management options.
Genetic and karyotypic structure in the shrews of the Sorex araneus group: are they independent?
Authors: BASSET P. , YANNIC G. , HAUSSER J. 
Published: March 2006

AbstractThe species of the common shrew (Sorex araneus) group are morphologically very similar but exhibit high levels of karyotypic variation. Here we used genetic variation at 10 microsatellite markers in a data set of 212 individuals mostly sampled in the western Alps and composed of five karyotypic taxa (Sorex coronatus, Sorex antinorii and the S. araneus chromosome races Cordon, Bretolet and Vaud) to investigate the concordance between genetic and karyotypic structure. Bayesian analysis confirmed the taxonomic status of the three sampled species since individuals consistently grouped according to their taxonomical status. However, introgression can still be detected between S. antinorii and the race Cordon of S. araneus. This observation is consistent with the expected low karyotypic complexity of hybrids between these two taxa. Geographically based cryptic substructure was discovered within S. antinorii, a pattern consistent with the different postglaciation recolonization routes of this species. Additionally, we detected two genetic groups within S. araneus notwithstanding the presence of three chromosome races. This pattern can be explained by the probable hybrid status of the Bretolet race but also suggests a relatively low impact of chromosomal differences on genetic structure compared to historical factors. Finally, we propose that the current data set (available at http://www.unil.ch/dee/page7010_en.html#1) could be used as a reference by those wanting to identify Sorex individuals sampled in the western Alps.