bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epidemiological aspects of snoring and hypertension
Authors: GISLASON THORARINN , JANSON CHIRSTER , TÓMASSON KRISTINN 
Published: January 2009

SUMMARY  Previous studies have reported a great difference in snoring prevalence in different populations. In a recent study on men and women 20–45 y old, living in Sweden (Uppsala, Gothenbourg), Iceland (Reykjavík) and Belgium (Antwerp), data concerning snoring, etc., were collected using the same questions and scales in all the countries. In all four areas the prevalence of snoring was the same: 5% of men and 2–3% of women reported snoring every night. In all areas snoring was positively correlated with age, male sex and body mass index. It was therefore assumed that the previous difference in snoring prevalence is probably an artifact of different methodologies.The connection between snoring and systemic hypertension has been much disputed during the last decade. The high prevalence of hypertension in the sleep apnoea syndrome has been explained by obesity/age/male gender/sleep apnoea and/or snoring. In one recent study snoring did not contribute independently to the prediction of hypertension, while other studies indicate that snoring is an independent risk factor for hypertension.After reviewing some of the epidemiological literature it was found that these studies are bound to identify almost entirely different subgroups of the population as snorers since the prevalence of snoring is rated on different types of frequency scales with words like ‘never’, ‘often’ or the number of nights per week. The questions used are also different. In general it can be stated that the smaller the proportion of the population identified as snorers the more often there is a statistically significant association with hypertension.The relationship between snoring and hypertension is considered to be unclear due to the different research methods used, and to the uncertain role played by confounding factors such as obesity. There is a need for population‐based, prospective, studies with more uniform definitions of the term ‘snoring’ based on objective measurements of upper airway resistance during sleep, together with haemodynamic studies.
Basic Nordic Sleep Questionnaire (BNSQ): a quantitated measure of subjective sleep complaints
Authors: PARTINEN MARKKU , GISLASON THORARINN 
Published: January 2009

SUMMARY  Sleep‐related breathing disturbances, especially obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), are commonly encountered. Epidemiological studies from different countries have shown that poor sleep and complaints about insufficient sleep or poor sleep are often related to poor health. Different studies are, however, difficult to compare with each other. One of the main reasons for this is the frequent methodological differences between questionnaires. There is a need for uniform methods: we need to know the prevalence and incidence of sleep disorders, judged using the same criteria, and also the severity of each problem, i.e. how often a problem or a symptom happens/occurs.In 1988 the Scandinavian Sleep Research Society formed a task group for developing a standardized questionnaire that could be used as a basis for questionnaires used in the Nordic countries. In this article we describe the Basic Nordic Sleep Questionnaire (BNSQ). The main change compared to many previous questionnaires is the five‐point scale (scale from 1 to 5) stressing on how many nights/days per week something happens. The basic scale is: 1, ‘never or less than once per month’; 2, ‘less than once per week’; 3, ‘on 1–2 nights per week’; 4, ‘on 3–5 nights per week’; and 5, ‘every night or almost every night’. For questions about specific rare events the first category may be divided into ‘never’ and ‘less than once per month’. Habitually occurring events such as ‘habitual snoring’ are defined here as snoring every night or almost every night. The BNSQ has been used widely in a variety of studies performed in Nordic countries during the last years, and it has proven to be a valid tool.
Prevalence of nocturnal oxygen desaturation in patients admitted to a geriatric rehabilitation unit
Authors: ROTH THOMAS , HÖLTMANN BERNHARD J. 
Published: January 2009

SUMMARY  Continuous oxygen measurement by digital oximetry is a well‐established and widely used method. As reports in patients with cardiac disease have shown high prevalences of nocturnal oxygen desaturation, this study aimed to screen the patients admitted to a geriatric rehabilitation unit. Oxygen saturation was con‐tinously recorded during sleeptime in 103 unselected patients (52 women, 51 men) with a mean age of 77 y (65–90 y). The records were analysed according to standard rules concerning the frequency, duration and severity of periodic or phasic oxygen desaturations (ODES). Significant desaturations were found in 50/103 (48%) patients (43% women, 57% men) with a mean desaturation index (DESI) of 9.2 h‐1. Periodic desaturations greater than 10 h‐1 were found in 33% (35/103) patients with a mean DESI of 26/h in women and 20/h in men. Severe periods of desaturation (<80%) were found in 33% of women and in 41% of men. Patients with cardiac diseases showed the highest prevalence of total ODES (61%) and of periodic ODES (44%). Patients with lung diseases showed the highest prevalence of phasic ODES (43%).Patients admitted to the geriatric rehabilitation unit showed a considerably high prevalence of nocturnal oxygen desaturations. In contrast to earlier reports no significant influence of gender was found. The results presented here clearly support the urgent need for systematic sleep studies especially in elderly handicapped patients. Further investigations are needed to study clinical implications and the effects of therapeutic interventions.
The HIV‐exposed, uninfected African child
Authors: Filteau Suzanne 
Published: January 2009

SummaryThe increasing success of prevention of mother‐to‐child HIV transmission programmes means that in Africa, very large numbers of HIV‐exposed, uninfected (HIV‐EU) children are being born. Any health problems that these children may have will thus be of enormous public health importance, but to date have been largely neglected. There is some evidence that HIV‐EU African children are at increased risk of mortality, morbidity and slower early growth than their HIV‐unexposed counterparts. A likely major cause of this impaired health is less exposure to breast milk as mothers are either less able to breastfeed or stop breastfeeding early to protect their infant from HIV infection. Other contributing factors are parental illness or death resulting in reduced care of the children, increased exposure to other infections and possibly exposure to antiretroviral drugs. A broad approach for psychosocial support of HIV‐affected families is needed to improve health of HIV‐EU children. High quality programmatic research is needed to determine how to deliver such care.
Human papillomavirus‐associated squamous cell carcinoma of the nail bed in African‐American patients
Authors: Turowski Cheryl Bansal , Ross Amy S. , Cusack Carrie Ann 
Published: January 2009

AbstractBackground  Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been implicated in the development of digital squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Case reports in the literature mostly identify HPV type 16 present in tumors, but HPV types 2, 31, 34, 35, and 73 have also been isolated.Methods  Two cases of digital SCC associated with HPV 16 in young African‐American men are presented.Results and conclusions  Digital SCC associated with HPV may be difficult to evaluate and treat, particularly in African‐Americans and patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We discuss the need for careful evaluation, treatment, and follow‐up of these individuals.
Excision of Xanthelasmata – clamp, shave, and suture
Authors: Ghosh Yajati K. , Pradhan Eli , Ahluwalia Harpreet S. 
Published: January 2009

AbstractXanthelasma is a common disfiguring condition, which can be difficult to treat. Various treatments have been reported previously with varying degree of success.We report a simple yet effective technique of excision of the lesions with excellent cosmetic outcome.
Outcome of influenza infections in outpatients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Khanna N. , Steffen I. , Studt J.‐D. , Schreiber A. , Lehmann T. , Weisser M. , Flückiger U. , Gratwohl A. , Halter J. , Hirsch H.H. 
Published: January 2009

Background. Influenza can cause significant morbidity and mortality in patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The diagnostic methods and antiviral treatment have scarcely been investigated.Methods. We retrospectively identified influenza‐infected patients with upper or lower respiratory tract infection (RTI) diagnosed by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing between November 2007 and April 2008. Treatment with oseltamivir 75 mg twice daily and serial nasal swabs were performed at the discretion of the treating physician.Results. We identified 21 influenza infections in 19 patients: 19 with upper RTI and 2 with lower RTI. At diagnosis, all 21 samples were positive for PCR with a median influenza load of 5.9 log10 copies/mL. Culture was positive in 14 (67%) patients. Influenza A virus was diagnosed in 8 (38%) episodes and influenza B virus in 13 (62%) episodes. Two patients were sequentially infected by influenza A, followed by B after 38 and 47 days, respectively. Eighteen (86%) patients were treated with oseltamivir for 11 days (median, interquartile range [IQR]: 8–14). No progression to lower RTI or mortality occurred. Shedding persisted for 12 days (median, IQR: 8–13). Absolute lymphocyte count at diagnosis correlated inversely with shedding of the virus (P<0.001).Conclusions. Oseltamivir is well tolerated and may reduce mortality of influenza virus‐infected patients after HSCT. PCR may help to optimize diagnosis and to monitor treatment strategies.
Primary cutaneous angioplasmocellular hyperplasia
Authors: Kumar Sandeep , Weedon David , De'Ambrosis Brian 
Published: January 2009

SUMMARYPrimary cutaneous angioplasmocellular hyperplasia is a plasmacellular infiltrate that has been reported only once previously in the literature, in a report of a case affecting two Latin American patients. In the present case, a systemically well 62‐year‐old Caucasian man presented with a nodule on the back of the neck. Histology showed a vascular proliferative process with an abundance of plasma cells in the stroma. There has been no recurrence of the lesion 2 years following curettage and diathermy. The clinicopathological presentation is consistent with primary cutaneous angioplasmocellular hyperplasia.
Management of imatinib‐related exacerbation of psoriasis in a patient with a gastrointestinal stromal tumour
Authors: Cheng Haiying , Geist David E , Piperdi May , Virk Renu , Piperdi Bilal 
Published: January 2009

SUMMARYA 62‐year‐old woman with a pre‐existing psoriasis was treated with oral imatinib (400 mg/day) for a metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumour. Within 4 weeks of starting therapy, she developed a guttate psoriasis flare. The eruption markedly improved within 2 weeks following cessation of imatinib. However, it recurred when imatinib was recommenced. She has been able to continue on imatinib (400 mg/day) with low‐dose oral methotrexate (12.5 mg/week) controlling the psoriasis.
Epidermodysplasia verruciformis‐like syndrome in association with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Holmes Cara , Chong Alvin H , Tabrizi Sepehr N , Downes Nicholas , Nindl Ingo 
Published: January 2009

SUMMARYA 43 year‐old immunosuppressed woman presented with a widespread macular scaly rash, clinically and histologically consistent with epidermodysplasia verruciformis. She had no family history of epidermodysplasia verruciformis. Human papillomavirus typing was performed on both biopsied skin from clinical lesions and on plucked body hairs. The lesional skin from the arm and knee showed predominantly human papillomavirus‐20 and ‐47 respectively. Human papillomavirus genotyping from the hair follicles revealed that human papillomavirus‐20 had the highest viral load, irrespective of body site.
Azathioprine hypersensitivity presenting as a neutrophilic dermatosis in a man with ulcerative colitis
Authors: Yiasemides Eleni , Thom Graham 
Published: January 2009

SUMMARYWe report a case of a 46‐year‐old man with ulcerative colitis being treated with oral prednisolone and azathioprine. Two weeks after the initiation of azathioprine he presented with fever, fatigue, myalgias and arthralgias and a painful cutaneous eruption that was most marked in a sun‐exposed distribution. This was accompanied by loose, non‐bloody diarrhoea. Histopathological assessment of a skin biopsy supported a diagnosis of a neutrophilic dermatosis. The azathioprine was temporarily withheld and oral prednisolone was increased as it was thought that the neutrophilic dermatosis was associated with the underlying ulcerative colitis. The patient's symptoms and cutaneous eruption resolved quickly and azathioprine was re‐introduced. Within 24 h, systemic symptoms returned along with a florid recrudescence of his cutaneous eruption. This rapidly improved upon withdrawal of azathioprine.
A novel model of wound healing in the SCID mouse using a cultured human skin substitute
Authors: Windsor Martin L , Eisenberg Mark , Gordon‐Thomson Clare , Moore Geoffrey PM 
Published: January 2009

SUMMARYStudies of skin graft behaviour in rodent excisional wound models are limited by the dominance of wound contracture and graft sloughing as primary healing responses. To slow skin contraction, polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) rings were inserted into dorso‐lateral full‐thickness wounds in SCID mice. Cultured skin substitutes (OrCel), composed of cultured human keratinocytes and fibroblasts in a bovine collagen sponge, were implanted within the rings. Examination and histology of grafts 14 days later showed graft take in four of six recipients, with 90% epithelialization and wound contraction of 31–47%. Immunohistochemical studies, using human‐specific antisera to distinguish graft from host tissues, showed that regenerated tissue was predominantly human. Staining with anticytokeratin, revealed a multilayered, stratified neoepidermis. HBG were identified in keratinocytes in all epidermal layers. Langerhans cells were absent. Antihuman vimentin, used as a fibroblast marker, confirmed that cells of the neodermis were primarily of human origin. Neoepidermal keratinocytes, primarily in the basal and suprabasal layers, were also stained. Results suggest that the poly(tetrafluoroethylene) ring inhibited graft sloughing and provided a more favourable environment for the skin substitute to regenerate a substantially normal human skin.
Monitoring nutritional status accurately and reliably in adolescents with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Martin Andrew C , Pascoe Elaine M , Forbes David A 
Published: January 2009

Aim:  Accurate assessment of nutritional status is a vital aspect of caring for individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) and body mass index (BMI) is considered an appropriate and easy to use tool. Because of the intense fear of weight gain, some individuals may attempt to mislead the physician. Mid‐upper arm circumference (MUAC) is a simple, objective method of assessing nutritional status. The setting is an eating disorders clinic in a tertiary paediatric hospital in Western Australia. The aim of this study is to evaluate how well MUAC correlates with BMI in adolescents with AN.Methods:  Prospective observational study to evaluate nutritional status in adolescents with AN.Results:  Fifty‐five adolescents aged 12–17 years with AN were assessed between January 1, 2004 and January 1, 2006. MUAC was highly correlated with BMI (r = 0.79, P < 0.001) and individuals with MUAC ≥20 cm rarely required hospitalisation (negative predictive value 93%).Conclusions:  MUAC reflects nutritional status as defined by BMI in adolescents with AN. Lack of consistency between longitudinal measurements of BMI and MUAC should be viewed suspiciously and prompt a more detailed nutritional assessment.
Vitamin D in infants with cystic fibrosis diagnosed by newborn screening
Authors: Neville Liza A , Ranganathan Sarath C 
Published: January 2009

Aims:  Screening enables early nutritional deficiencies to be detected in those with cystic fibrosis (CF). Although vitamin deficiency is considered unlikely in older subjects with normal vitamin E levels, few studies have determined vitamin D status at diagnosis and its relationship to other fat‐soluble vitamins.Methods:  We reviewed vitamin levels in infants diagnosed with CF by newborn screening over a 5‐year period in Melbourne, Australia. Vitamin D levels were determined using the IDS gamma‐B 25‐OH Vitamin D radio‐immunoassay (Immunodiagnostic Systems Limited, Boldon, UK). Vitamins A and E were evaluated by high‐performance liquid chromatography. We assessed the association between vitamin D level and sex, month of birth, pancreatic status, and vitamin A and E levels.Results:  Fifty‐eight infants were diagnosed at a median age of 1 month (range: 0–3 months). Initial vitamin D levels were assessed between 0.2 and 3.5 months in 30 (vitamin D) and 45 (vitamins A and E) infants. The number of infants deficient with vitamins D, E and A were 11 (37%), 7 (16%) and 27 (60%), respectively. Vitamin D levels were unrelated to sex, vitamin A or E levels, month of birth or pancreatic status, whereas vitamin A and E levels were significantly lower in those who were pancreatic insufficient. With supplementation, vitamin D increased over time.Conclusions:  Vitamin D deficiency is common in infants newly diagnosed with CF by newborn screening and is unrelated to pancreatic status or predicted low vitamin E levels. Vitamin D deficiency is less common over time following treatment.
Effects of cevoglitazar, a dual PPARα/γ agonist, on ectopic fat deposition in fatty Zucker rats
Authors: Laurent D. , Gounarides J. S. , Gao J. , Boettcher B. R. 
Published: January 2009

Aim:  By acting as both insulin sensitizers and lipid‐lowering agents, dual‐acting peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors α/γ (PPARα/γ) agonists may be used to improve glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetic patients without inducing adiposity and body weight gain. Here, in an animal model of obesity and insulin resistance, the metabolic response to cevoglitazar, a dual PPARα/γ, was characterized using a combination of in vivo and ex vivo magnetic resonance methodologies and compared to treatment effects of fenofibrate, a PPARα agonist, and pioglitazone, a PPARγ agonist.Methods:  Four groups of fatty Zucker rats: (i) Vehicle; (ii) fenofibrate 150 mg/kg; (iii) pioglitazone 30 mg/kg; and (iv) cevoglitazar 5 mg/kg were investigated before and after treatment. Animals were fed a fat‐enriched (54% kcal fat) diet for 6 weeks, 2 weeks high of fat–exposure alone followed by a 4‐week dosing period.Results and conclusions:  Cevoglitazar was as effective as pioglitazone at improving glucose tolerance. However, unlike pioglitazone, both fenofibrate and cevoglitazar reduced BW gain and adiposity, independent of food intake. All three treatment regimens normalized intramyocellular lipids. Metabolic profiling showed that in the muscle cevoglitazar improves the lipid profile via both PPARα‐ and PPARγ‐mediated mechanisms. Pioglitazone reduced hepatic lipid accumulation, while cevoglitazar and fenofibrate reduced hepatic lipid concentration below baseline levels (p < 0.05). Metabolic profiling showed that in the liver, cevoglitazar functions largely through PPARα agonism resulting in increased β‐oxidation. Cevoglitazar only induced small changes to the lipid composition of visceral fat. In subcutaneous fat, however, cevoglitazar induced changes similar to those observed with fenofibrate suggesting export of fatty acids from this depot.
Prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) kinetics in untreated, localized prostate cancer: PSA velocity vs PSA doubling time
Authors: Ng Michael K. , Van As Nicholas , Thomas Karen , Woode‐Amissah Ruth , Horwich Alan , Huddart Robert , Khoo Vincent , Thompson Alan , Dearnaley David , Parker Chris 
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVETo compare the accuracy of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) velocity (PSAV) vs PSA doubling time (DT) for predicting the repeat biopsy results in men with localized prostate cancer on active surveillance (AS), as the utility of PSAV vs PSADT in untreated prostate cancer has not been well studied.PATIENTS AND METHODSEligible patients had favourable‐risk localized prostate cancer (T1/2a, PSA level ≤15 ng/mL, Gleason score ≤3 + 4, and percentage positive biopsy cores ≤50%), and consented to AS between 2002 and 2005. Repeat biopsies were taken after 18–24 months, with adverse histology defined as any of: primary Gleason grade ≥4, >50% cores positive, or initial Gleason score 3 + 3 upgraded to ≥3 + 4. Using all PSA values for the 2 years preceding repeat biopsy, the PSAV and PSADT were calculated using linear regression and the log‐slope method (DT = ln2/slope), respectively.RESULTSIn all, 199 patients were assessable; the median PSAV and PSADT were 0.71 ng/mL/year and 5.29 years, respectively. Fifty‐three patients (27%) had adverse histology on repeat biopsy. On univariate analyses, PSAV (P < 0.001) and PSADT (P = 0.019) were associated with adverse histology. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting adverse histology was 0.70 and 0.63 for PSAV and PSADT, respectively. The mean difference was 0.07 (95% confidence interval 0.03–0.12; P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONSPSAV is more accurate than PSADT for predicting adverse histology on repeat biopsies. These data suggest that PSAV should be used in preference to PSADT to describe PSA kinetics in untreated, localized prostate cancer.
Nerve growth factor combined with vascular endothelial growth factor enhances regeneration of bladder acellular matrix graft in spinal cord injury‐induced neurogenic rat bladder
Authors: Kikuno Nobuyuki , Kawamoto Ken , Hirata Hiroshi , Vejdani Kaveh , Kawakami Kazumori , Fandel Thomas , Nunes Lora , Urakami Shinji , Shiina Hiroaki , Igawa Mikio , Tanagho Emil , Dahiya Rajvir 
Published: January 2009

OBJECTIVETo determine the combined effects of nerve growth factor (NGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on regeneration of the bladder acellular matrix graft (BAMG) in spinal cord injury (SCI)‐mediated neurogenic bladder in rats.MATERIALS AND METHODSIn all, 40 female Sprague‐Dawley rats were used. At 8 weeks after spinalization surgery (neurogenic bladder), they were divided into five groups consisting of untreated controls and those whose bladders were injected with either no growth factor, NGF (2 µg/rat), VEGF (2 µg/rat) or both at partial BAMG replacement surgery. After 8 weeks, bladder function was assessed by urodynamic studies and the bladders were harvested for histological examination. Smooth muscle induction, collagen and nerve fibre regeneration were assessed immunohistochemically using antibodies to smooth muscle actin (α‐actin), Masson’s trichrome and protein gene product 9.5, respectively.RESULTSBladder capacity and compliance were significantly increased in all BAMG groups 8 weeks after surgery compared with that before bladder replacement surgery. Bladder capacity and compliance were much higher in the VEGF and NGF combined group than in the control, or NGF and VEGF alone groups. There was no significant difference in the residual volume ratio among all groups.CONCLUSIONSThis is the first report showing that NGF has a significant synergistic effect on the development, differentiation and functional restoration of the BAMG when administered with VEGF in neurogenic bladder. Our results indicate that NGF may be a useful cytokine for enhancing the regeneration of a functional bladder following acellular matrix grafting in a neurogenic rat model.