bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The successful use of botulinum toxin for the treatment of nasal hyperhidrosis
Authors: Geddoa Emad , Balakumar A. K. , Paes T. R. F. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractBackground  Patients with facial hyperhidrosis often experience occupational, social, and psychological problems. Botulinum toxin type A, which has been shown to be useful in the treatment of hyperhidrosis, can cause the paralysis of facial muscles if used in the skin overlying the facial muscles. It can, however, be used in the skin of the nose without significantly affecting the muscles of facial expression.Methods  Two patients with severe nasal hyperhidrosis were treated with botulinum toxin.Results  Two patients with severe nasal hyperhidrosis responded to a single session of treatment with intradermal injections of botulinum toxin.Conclusions  This treatment method for nasal hyperhidrosis is simple, well tolerated, and effective, and significantly improves the quality of life of the affected individuals.
Evaluation of 23 cutaneous anthrax patients in eastern Anatolia, Turkey: diagnosis and risk factors*
Authors: Ozcan Hamdi , Kayabas Uner , Bayindir Yasar , Bayraktar Mehmet R. , Ay Selma 
Published: September 2008

AbstractBackground  Anthrax is a potentially fatal zoonotic disease. The diagnosis of cutaneous anthrax (CA) may be very difficult, particularly in atypical presentations and nonendemic regions.Aim  To evaluate the clinical features and diagnostic difficulties of 23 anthrax cases seen between May 2004 and September 2006.Methods  Twenty‐three patients with CA were included in this study. The diagnosis of CA was based on clinical findings and/or microbiologic procedures.Results  All patients with a diagnosis of CA were followed up. One patient experienced toxemic shock. Twenty‐two patients had a history of animal contact. Only one patient did not recall any history of suspicious contact. The clinical presentation of CA was typical in 20 patients (87%). Two patients were initially misdiagnosed with insect bites and one patient with angioedema. Cultures from the lesions were positive for Bacillus anthracis in seven cases (30.4%). Gram stain from the lesions revealed Gram‐positive rods in eight cases (34.8%). Fifteen patients (65.2%) were diagnosed by clinical presentation and a history of contact with sick animals and/or contaminated animal products.Conclusion  CA is a very contagious and important infectious disease worldwide. Early and accurate diagnosis dramatically affects the prognosis of the disease. The diagnosis of CA may be difficult, especially in atypical presentations and nonendemic areas. Thus, CA should be kept in mind, especially in these situations.
Examination of specific DNA by PCR in patients with different forms of Lyme borreliosis
Authors: Pícha Dušan , Moravcová Lenka , Holečková Daniela , Žd’árský Emanuel , Valešová Marie , Marešová Vilma , Hercogová Jana , Vanousová Daniela 
Published: September 2008

AbstractBackground  Borrelial specific DNA was examined in a group of 62 patients with different forms of Lyme borreliosis (LB) (32 patients suffered from neuroborreliosis, 19 manifested erythema migrans, and 11 joint involvement).Methods  Nested‐PCR system with five newly derived primers was used in parallel. The study was organized prospectively, the presence of DNA was tested for plasma, CSF, joint fluid and urine before treatment, and plasma, joint fluid and urine were examined after treatment.Results  Before therapy, 36 patients (58.1%) were DNA positive on the whole; 21 positive patients (65.6%) were found in the group of neuroborreliosis, 8 (42.1%) showed signs of skin involvement, and 7 (63.6%) were positive in arthritis. After treatment, 11 patients (36.7%) were positive in neuroborreliosis, 3 (17.6%) in skin form, and 6 (54.5%) in joint form of LB. Among 97 positive amplifications the most frequent target was found in primer corresponding with 16S rDNA (50 samples, 51.5%). Lower but very similar results were obtained with primers for OspA (18 positive amplifications; 18.6%), OspC (13 positive amplifications; 13.4%), and flagellin (13 positive amplifications; 13.4%). There were 11 patients in whom only DNA and no specific antibodies were found.Conclusions  Specific DNA was found in all clinical groups of LB with similar sensitivity. Examination of the borrelial DNA in urine displayed the same sensitivity as in CSF and had a two times higher sensitivity than in plasma.
Dermoscopic patterns of superficial basal cell carcinoma
Authors: Scalvenzi Massimiliano , Lembo Serena , Francia Maria Grazia , Balato Anna 
Published: September 2008

AbstractBackground  Superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC) presents as a scaly, pink to red–brown patch and is predominantly located on the trunk. Clinical diagnosis may not be always easy and implicates a variety of differential diagnoses; in this situation dermoscopy has been reported improving the diagnostic accuracy. This study investigated dermoscopic patterns of superficial BCC focalizing the most specific and frequent structures in order to improve the diagnostic accuracy.Limitations  Study population referred to skin lesion clinic.Methods  Dermoscopic patterns of 42 superficial BCCs were analyzed and photographed. These cases represented the 8% of all BCCs excised in our Department between 2005 and 2006.Results  Dermoscopic structures observed in the 42 superficial BCCs consisted of shiny white to red areas (100%), “erosions” (78.6%), short fine telangiectasias (SFTs) (66.6%), leaf‐like areas (16.6%), arborizing telangiectasias (14.3%), blue–gray globules (14.3%) and large blue–gray ovoid nests (4.7%).Conclusions  Our study identifies the presence of shiny white to red areas, SFTs and “erosions” as main dermoscopic criteria of superficial BCC. Other dermoscopic features, such as leaf‐like areas, arborizing telangiectasias, blue–gray globules and large blue–gray ovoid nests, are not strongly associated with the diagnosis of superficial BCC but they are useful in the differential diagnosis from other pigmented and nonpigmented skin lesions.
Hematidrosis: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Da Silva Carvalho Ana Carolina , Machado‐Pinto Jackson , Nogueira Gustavo Carneiro , Almeida Luiz Maurício Costa , Nunes Maurício Buzelin 
Published: September 2008

AbstractThe authors report the case of a 9 year‐old female who had bleeding episodes around the mouth after strenuous exercise or prolonged exposure to heat. Characteristically, bleeding occurred right after sweat drops started appearing on the surface of the skin around the mouth. The bleeding episodes ceased spontaneously.
Development of an interactive computer program for advance care planning
Authors: Green Michael J. , Levi Benjamin H. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractObjective  To describe the development of an innovative, multi‐media decision aid for advance care planning.Background  Advance care planning is an important way for people to articulate their wishes for medical care when they are not able to speak for themselves. Living wills and other types of advance directives are the most commonly used tools for advance care planning, but have been criticized for being vague, difficult to interpret, and inconsistent with individuals’ core beliefs and values.Results  We developed a multimedia, computer‐based decision aid for advance care planning (‘Making Your Wishes Known: Planning Your Medical Future’) to overcome many of the limitations of standard advance directive forms. This computer program guides individuals through the process of advance care planning, and unlike standard advance directives, provides tailored education, values clarification exercises, and a decision‐making tool that translates an individual’s values and preferences into a specific medical plan that can be implemented by a health‐care team. Pilot testing with 50 adult volunteers recruited from an outpatient primary care clinic showed high levels of satisfaction with the program. Further pilot testing with 34 cancer patients indicated that the program was perceived to be highly accurate at representing patients’ wishes.Conclusions  This paper describes the development of an innovative decision aid for advance care planning that was designed to overcome common problems with standard advance directives. Preliminary testing suggests that it is acceptable to users and is accurate.
QUANTITATIVE FUNCTIONAL IMAGING AND KINETIC STUDIES WITH HIGH‐Z CONTRAST AGENTS USING SYNCHROTRON RADIATION COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
Authors: Adam JF , Bayat S , Porra L , Elleaume H , Estève F , Suortti P 
Published: September 2008

SUMMARY

There is an increasing demand in diagnostic radiology for extracting additional morphological and functional quantitative parameters from three‐dimensional computed tomography (CT) images. Synchrotron radiation computed tomography (SRCT) is the state‐of‐the‐art method in preclinical X‐ray CT, because its performance is close to the theoretical limits in terms of accuracy and precision.
The SRCT method with monochromatic X‐ray beams yields absolute high‐Z element contrast agent concentrations, without errors arising from beam hardening or scatter artefacts, by using digital subtraction techniques of the sinograms. Each pixel of the reconstructed difference images provides a quantitative concentration versus time curve of inhaled or injected high‐Z contrast agents (xenon or iodine) with a high sensitivity. This is the key point of two functional imaging techniques that were developed at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility: brain perfusion and lung function (ventilation and perfusion).
These two imaging techniques provide parametric images expressed in absolute perfusion parameters (blood volume, blood flow, mean transit time and capillary permeability) or ventilation parameters (lung volume, regional lung ventilation, bronchial lumen size, regional airway and lung compliance) with a high accuracy and precision.
The aim of the present brief review is to give a snapshot of the status and perspectives of these two imaging techniques, with emphasis on the performances and interests for functional imaging. Two separate sections will then describe the results obtained so far using SRCT as an in vivo functional imaging tool for measuring changes in haemodynamics and ventilation, in the investigation of experimental pathophysiology and in the effects of therapeutic intervention.
PRENATAL EXPOSURE TO ZYMOSAN RESULTS IN HYPERTENSION IN ADULT OFFSPRING RATS
Authors: Liao Wenqiang , Wei Yanling , Yu Changan , Zhou Jianzhi , Li Shuhui , Pang Yan , Li Geng , Li Xiaohui 
Published: September 2008

SUMMARY

Events in utero appear to have a significant role in the development of cardiovascular dysfunction in adulthood. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of prenatal exposure to zymosan, a non‐infectious and non‐bacterial agent capable of inducing inflammation, on mean systolic arterial pressure (MSAP) in rat offspring at 6–66 weeks of age.
Pregnant rats were divided into three groups: (i) a control group, administered 0.5 mL, i.p., saline on gestation Days 8, 10 and 12; (ii) a zymosan‐treated group, given 2.37 mg/kg, i.p., zymosan on gestation Days 8, 10 and 12; and (iii) a pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) + zymosan‐treated group, which was given 100 mg/kg, i.p., PDTC 1 h before zymosan. At 6, 16, 26, 36, 56 and 66 weeks of age, MSAP was determined in rat offspring from all three groups. Serum levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α were determined in dams, as well as in offspring at 24 and 56 weeks of age. In addition, protein levels of nuclear factor (NF)‐κB (p65) in the myocardium and kidney of offspring were determined at 24 weeks of age.
The results showed that MSAP and NF‐κB (p65) levels in the myocardium and kidney of offspring from the zymosan‐treated group were increased significantly compared with control. This increase was inhibited by concomitant treatment with PDTC. Serum TNF‐α levels in dams exposed to zymosan and in their offspring at 56 weeks of age (but not at 24 weeks of age) were significantly increased compared with levels in the control group. Following lipopolysaccharide treatment (1 mg/kg, i.p.) of adult rat offspring at 24 weeks of age, there was a further increase in serum TNF‐α levels in offspring in the zymosan‐treated group compared with the other two groups.
The findings of the present study suggest that non‐bacterial inflammation during gestation can lead to hypertension in offspring and that NF‐κB signalling may play a critical role in this process.
Living in the country and studying in the city. The art of passing exams and remaining sane
Authors: Grant Cameron C. , Pinnock Ralph , Innes Asher M. , Sullivan Michael James 
Published: September 2008

Background:  Doctors working in smaller centres have fewer resources available to help them pass the specialist examination components of their training.Aim:  To describe the delivery of a teaching programme that helps paediatricians in training in both peripheral and regional centres in New Zealand (NZ) to successfully prepare for their specialist written examinations.Methods:  The teaching programme was initially developed for paediatricians in training in Auckland and then developed into a national teaching resource. Real‐time visual and auditory communication among the various teaching sites was established by the NZ Telepaediatric Service. The sessions were also available for subsequent review, initially as a DVD recording or via a Telepaediatric service videoconferencing unit and, since 2007, as a webcast.Results:  In association with the development of this teaching programme, the percentage pass rate for the paediatric specialist examinations has increased significantly for those exam candidates that access the teaching sessions remotely from other NZ centres (60% vs. 82%, χ12 = 4.28, P = 0.04). Between 80 and 90% of NZ candidates now pass the examination. In comparison, the pass rate for Australian candidates sitting the identical examination remains between 60 and 70%.Conclusions:  Telepaediatrics has enabled interactive sessions to be conducted with students in peripheral and the other regional centres as well as those attending in person in Auckland. Its development has enabled examination pass rates in smaller centres to increase.
Epidemiology of acute rheumatic fever in New Zealand 1996–2005
Authors: Jaine Richard , Baker Michael , Venugopal Kamalesh 
Published: September 2008

Aim:  Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and its sequela chronic rheumatic heart disease remain significant causes of morbidity and mortality in New Zealand, particularly among Māori and Pacific peoples. Despite its importance, ARF epidemiology has not been reviewed recently. The aims of this study were to assess trends in ARF incidence rates between 1996 and 2005 and the extent to which ARF is concentrated in certain populations based on age, sex, ethnicity and geographical location.Methods:  This descriptive epidemiological study examined ARF incidence rates using hospitalisation data (1996–2005) and population data from the 1996 and 2001 censuses. Rates were compared by using rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals.Results:  New Zealand's annual ARF rate was 3.4 per 100 000. ARF was concentrated in certain populations: 5‐ to 14‐year‐olds, Māori and Pacific peoples and upper North Island areas. From 1996 to 2005, the New Zealand European and Others ARF rate decreased significantly while Māori and Pacific peoples’ rates increased. Compared with New Zealand European and Others, rate ratios were 10.0 for Māori and 20.7 for Pacific peoples. Of all cases, 59.5% were Māori or Pacific children aged 5–14 years, yet this group comprised only 4.7% of the New Zealand population.Conclusion:  ARF rates in New Zealand have failed to decrease since the 1980s and remain some of the highest reported in a developed country. There are large, and now widening, ethnic disparities in ARF incidence. ARF is so concentrated by age group, ethnicity and geographical area that highly targeted interventions could be considered, based on these characteristics.
Antibiotic prophylaxis for childhood urinary tract infection: A national survey
Authors: Chevalier Isabelle , Benoît Geneviève , Gauthier Marie , Phan Véronique , Bonnin Anne‐Claude Bernard , Lebel Marc H 
Published: September 2008

Aims:  To describe attitudes of paediatricians and paediatric nephrologists regarding antibiotic prophylaxis for urinary tract infection (UTI) and determine the factors associated with its use.Method:  A self‐administered questionnaire was mailed to Canadian paediatricians (1136) and paediatric nephrologists (42).Results:  The response rate was 58.1% (684 physicians); 436 who had made a decision about antibiotic prophylaxis for childhood UTI in the previous year were included in the analysis. Of these, 407 (93.3%) were certified in paediatrics and 29 (6.7%) were paediatric nephrologists. Most respondents prescribed prophylaxis for children with grade III‐V vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) (96.5%–98%); 69.8 and 92.8% prescribed it for children with grades I and II VUR, respectively. Factors significantly associated with use of prophylaxis for children with grade I VUR were frequency of decision‐making about prophylaxis, city size and province. Fifteen percent of physicians felt that their practice regarding antibiotic prophylaxis for children with VUR was evidence based. A hundred one respondents (24.3%) prescribed prophylaxis for infants with a first febrile UTI in the absence of VUR. Nineteen percent felt that their practice regarding antibiotic prophylaxis for these infants was evidence based. Prescription of prophylaxis for children >12 months with recurrent UTI in the absence of VUR was influenced by frequency of pyelonephritis (88.5% of respondents) and presence of voiding dysfunction (53.8%). Nine percent of physicians felt that their practice for these children was evidence based.Conclusion:  Opinions of Canadian paediatricians and paediatric nephrologists regarding antibiotic prophylaxis for UTI in children vary widely, probably because of the paucity of solid evidence about prophylaxis.
Acute suicidality after commencing atomoxetine
Authors: Paxton Georgia Armat , Cranswick Noel Edward 
Published: September 2008

Abstract:An 11 year old boy developed acute agitation and suicidal ideation after commencing atomoxetine shortly after it was approved for use in Australia. The clinical features were similar to reactions described in response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The case highlights the importance of close monitoring when starting newly registered medications. An increased risk of suicidal thinking was subsequently identified for this drug leading to a Food and Drug Administration alert and a boxed warning in September 2005, however there are still no other published case reports of acute suicidality.
Stimulus‐selective spiking is driven by the relative timing of synchronous excitation and disinhibition in cat striate neurons in vivo
Authors: Azouz Rony , Gray Charles M. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractWhat patterns of synaptic input cause cortical neurons to fire action potentials? Are they stochastic in nature, or do action potentials arise from the specific timing of synaptic input? We addressed these questions by measuring the membrane potential fluctuations associated with the generation of visually evoked action potentials in cat striate cortical neurons in vivo. In response to visual stimulation, action potentials occurred at the crest of large‐amplitude, transient depolarizations (TDs) riding on sustained depolarization of the membrane potential. The magnitude, duration and rate of depolarization of these transient events were tuned for stimulus orientation. Using numerical simulations, we find that these transient events can arise from the temporal interplay between synchronous excitation and inhibition. To validate these findings, we made conductance measurements, at the preferred stimulus orientation, and showed that the TDs arise either from an increase in excitatory conductance, or from a combination of increased excitatory and decreased inhibitory conductance, both riding on sustained changes in synaptic conductances. The properties of the TDs and their underlying conductance suggest that they arise from a specific temporal interplay between synchronous excitatory and inhibitory synaptic inputs. Our results illustrate a mechanism by which the timing of synaptic inputs determines much of the spiking activity in striate cortical neurons.
Protein kinase C epsilon contributes to basal and sensitizing responses of TRPV1 to capsaicin in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons
Authors: Srinivasan Rahul , Wolfe Darren , Goss James , Watkins Simon , De Groat William C. , Sculptoreanu Adrian , Glorioso Joseph C. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractPhosphorylation of the vanilloid receptor (TRPV1) by protein kinase C epsilon (PKCɛ) plays an important role in the development of chronic pain. Here, we employ a highly defective herpes simplex virus vector (vHDNP) that expresses dominant negative PKCɛ (DNPKCɛ) as a strategy to demonstrate that PKCɛ is essential for: (i) maintenance of basal phosphorylation and normal TRPV1 responses to capsaicin (CAPS), a TRPV1 agonist and (ii) enhancement of TRPV1 responses by phorbol esters. Phorbol esters induced translocation of endogenous PKCɛ to the plasma membrane and thereby enhanced CAPS currents. These results were extended to an in‐vivo pain model in which vHDNP delivery to dorsal root ganglion neurons caused analgesia in CAPS‐treated, acutely inflamed rat hind paws. These findings support the conclusion that in addition to receptor sensitization, PKCɛ is essential for normal TRPV1 responses in vitro and in vivo.
Stoichiometry of soil enzyme activity at global scale
Authors: Sinsabaugh Robert L. , Lauber Christian L. , Weintraub Michael N. , Ahmed Bony , Allison Steven D. , Crenshaw Chelsea , Contosta Alexandra R. , Cusack Daniela , Frey Serita , Gallo Marcy E. , Gartner Tracy B. , Hobbie Sarah E. , Holland Keri , Keeler Bonnie L. , Powers Jennifer S. , Stursova Martina , Takacs‐Vesbach Cristina , Waldrop Mark P. , Wallenstein Matthew D. , Zak Donald R. , Zeglin Lydia H. 
Published: September 2008

AbstractExtracellular enzymes are the proximate agents of organic matter decomposition and measures of these activities can be used as indicators of microbial nutrient demand. We conducted a global‐scale meta‐analysis of the seven‐most widely measured soil enzyme activities, using data from 40 ecosystems. The activities of β‐1,4‐glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, β‐1,4‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase and phosphatase g−1 soil increased with organic matter concentration; leucine aminopeptidase, phenol oxidase and peroxidase activities showed no relationship. All activities were significantly related to soil pH. Specific activities, i.e. activity g−1 soil organic matter, also varied in relation to soil pH for all enzymes. Relationships with mean annual temperature (MAT) and precipitation (MAP) were generally weak. For hydrolases, ratios of specific C, N and P acquisition activities converged on 1 : 1 : 1 but across ecosystems, the ratio of C : P acquisition was inversely related to MAP and MAT while the ratio of C : N acquisition increased with MAP. Oxidative activities were more variable than hydrolytic activities and increased with soil pH. Our analyses indicate that the enzymatic potential for hydrolyzing the labile components of soil organic matter is tied to substrate availability, soil pH and the stoichiometry of microbial nutrient demand. The enzymatic potential for oxidizing the recalcitrant fractions of soil organic material, which is a proximate control on soil organic matter accumulation, is most strongly related to soil pH. These trends provide insight into the biogeochemical processes that create global patterns in ecological stoichiometry and organic matter storage.