bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A recombinant allergen chimer as novel mucosal vaccine candidate for prevention of multi‐sensitivities
Authors: Wild C. , Wallner M. , Hufnagl K. , Fuchs H. , Hoffmann‐Sommergruber K. , Breiteneder H. , Scheiner O. , Ferreira F. , Wiedermann U. 
Published: December 2006

Background:  As conventional immunotherapy is less efficacious in patients with allergic multi‐sensitivities compared with mono‐sensitized subjects, new intervention strategies are needed. Therefore, an allergen chimer was genetically engineered for treatment of multi‐sensitization with birch and grass pollen on the basis of mucosal tolerance induction.Methods:  The major birch pollen allergen Bet v 1 served as a scaffold for N‐ and C‐terminal linkage of the immunodominant peptides of the grass pollen allergens Phl p 1 and Phl p 5 and this new construct was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. After purification, physicochemical and immunological characterization the chimer was used for intranasal tolerance induction prior to poly‐sensitization with Bet v 1, Phl p 1 and Phl p 5.Results:  The immunological characterization revealed that the conformation of Bet v 1 within the chimer was comparable to that of natural as well as recombinant Bet v 1. The chimer was immunogenic in mice for T and B cell responses to the three allergens. Intranasal application of the chimer prior to poly‐sensitization significantly suppressed humoral and cellular allergen‐specific Th2 responses and prevented development of airway inflammation upon allergen challenge. Moreover, local allergen‐specific IgA antibodies were induced by the chimer. The mechanisms of poly‐tolerance induction seemed to be mediated by regulatory cytokines, since TGF‐β and IL‐10 mRNA in splenocytes were upregulated and tolerance was transferable with these cells.Conclusion:  The data indicate that such allergen chimers harboring several unrelated allergens or allergen peptides could serve as mucosal polyvalent vaccines for prevention of multi‐sensitivities.
Combined mediator blockade or topical steroid for treating the unified allergic airway
Authors: Barnes M. L. , Menzies D. , Fardon T. C. , Burns P. , Wilson A. M. , Lipworth B. J. 
Published: December 2006

Background:  Asthma and allergic rhinitis are manifestations of a single unified allergic airway, for which the best treatment is uncertain.Objective:  To compare the anti‐inflammatory efficacy in the unified allergic airway of combined oral mediator antagonism and combined topical steroid.Methods:  Subjects with asthma and perennial allergic rhinitis entered a randomized double blind crossover study comparing montelukast 10 mg and cetirizine 10 mg to extra‐fine inhaled beclomethasone 400 mcg/day and intranasal beclomethasone 200 mcg/day, each taken once daily for 2 months, after 2‐week placebo washouts. Measurements were made after each washout and randomized treatment, comprising: methacholine PC20, exhaled and nasal nitric oxide, blood eosinophils and eosinophilic cationic protein, symptoms, lung and nasal function tests.Results:  Seventeen patients completed per protocol. For PC20 and exhaled nitric oxide, only combined topical steroid produced improvements (P < 0.005) from placebo baseline. Combined steroid was superior by a 0.93 (95% CI 0.14–0.93, P < 0.05) doubling dilution difference for PC20 and a 0.99 (95% CI 0.9–15.1, P < 0.01) doubling difference for exhaled nitric oxide. Both treatments attenuated eosinophils and eosinophilic cationic protein, and reduced nasal symptoms (P < 0.05). Only steroid improved nasal nitric oxide (P = 0.05) and asthma symptoms (P < 0.05). Neither treatment affected lung or nasal function tests.Conclusion:  Combined topical steroid and combined mediator antagonism both attenuated systemic inflammation in the unified allergic airway, but only the former reduced bronchial and nasal inflammatory markers. The relevance of this to exacerbations and airway remodelling needs to be defined.
A comparison of the performance of two penicillin reagent kits in the diagnosis ofβ‐lactam hypersensitivity
Authors: Romano A. , Viola M. , Bousquet P. J. , Gaeta F. , Valluzzi R. , Caruso C. , Demoly P. 
Published: December 2006

Background: Skin testing with penicilloyl polylysine (PPL) and minor determinant mixture (MDM) represents the first‐line method for diagnosingβ‐lactam hypersensitivity. However, in 2004, Allergopharma and Hollister‐Stier announced their decision to stop the production of penicillin reagents (Allergopen®and PrePen®, respectively) within 1 year. Therefore, we decided to compare PPL and MDM from Allergopharma (Allergopen) with those from Diater (DAP®).Methods: We skin‐tested 195 subjects with both Allergopen and DAP reagents, as well as with otherβ‐lactams; 74 (group A) had had immediate reactions toβ‐lactams and 74 (group B) nonimmediate reactions, while 47 (group C) underwent prophylactic tests.Results: One hundred two patients (52.3%) had positive skin tests; 29 (14.9%) were positive to PPL and/or MDM. Of the 102 skin‐test‐positive patients, 44 belonged to group A, 57 to B and 1 to C; the last was positive only to Allergopen PPL (PPL‐A) and tolerated the benzylpenicillin challenge. Minor determinant mixture reagents produced identical results in the 148 patients of groups A and B, 22 (14.9%) of which were positive. Both PPL reagents produced negative results in 139 of these 148 patients and positive ones in 5; one subject was positive to DAP PPL (PPL‐D) and negative to PPL‐A, while three patients were positive to PPL‐A and negative to PPL‐D; two of the latter tolerated benzylpenicillin challenges.Conclusions: Minor determinant mixture reagents produced identical results in all 195 patients. Results of skin testing with PPL reagents were concordant in 190 (97.4%) of them. Therefore, DAP reagents are a reliable alternative to Allergopen ones.
Etoricoxib pre‐medication combined with intra‐operative subacromial block for pain after arthroscopic acromioplasty
Authors: Toivonen J. , Pitko V.‐M. , Rosenberg P. H. 
Published: December 2006

Background: Arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anaesthesia is often associated with severe post‐operative pain which may delay discharge and the start of rehabilitation. Etoricoxib is a new cyclo‐oxygenase‐2 inhibitor with a long duration of action and a lack of a deteriorating effect on platelet function. Therefore, the effect of pre‐operative etoricoxib combined with local anaesthesia on post‐operative pain and the discharge profile was studied in day‐surgery patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anaesthesia.Methods: Thirty ASA I–II adult patients scheduled for arthroscopic shoulder surgery were enrolled in this randomized prospective study. Half of the patients received etoricoxib 120 mg orally (group E) and the other half received placebo tablet orally (group C) 1 h before surgery. All patients received 20 ml of bupivacaine 2.5 mg/ml solution with epinephrine at the start of surgery and 20 ml of bupivacaine 5.0 mg/ml solution with epinephrine at the end of surgery into the subacromial space. All patients received general anaesthesia with spontaneous breathing via a laryngeal mask. In the post‐anaesthesia care unit, pain was assessed on a scale from 0 to 10 (visual analogue scale, VAS) and intravenous fentanyl 25 μg was administered as scheduled (VAS ≥ 3). In the day‐surgery unit and at home, the analgesic was a tablet containing paracetamol 500 mg + codeine 30 mg (VAS ≥ 3), as needed.Results: Patients in group E reported lower post‐operative pain scores at 30, 60, 120 (P< 0.01) and 180 min (P< 0.05) after surgery, and longer time to first analgesic use (P< 0.05). Patients in group E required less fentanyl (P< 0.05) and were discharged more quickly (P< 0.05) than patients in group C. Patients in group E had a lower cumulative consumption of paracetamol + codeine tablets (P< 0.05) and lower pain scores (P< 0.05) during 7 days at home than patients in group C. Adverse events were rare in both groups.Conclusion: In patients having arthroscopic shoulder surgery under general anaesthesia combined with intra‐operative subacromial regional analgesia, etoricoxib 120 mg reduced immediate and late post‐operative pain, and facilitated early post‐operative discharge.
Efficacy of ribavirin plus interferon‐α in patients aged ≥60 years with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Honda Takashi , Katano Yoshiaki , Urano Fumihiro , Murayama Mutsumi , Hayashi Kazuhiko , Ishigami Masatoshi , Nakano Isao , Yoshioka Kentaro , Toyoda Hidenori , Kumada Takashi , Goto Hidemi 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBackground:  In Japan, patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐associated liver disease are getting older, and thus the number of deaths due to such disease is increasing. The efficacy of combination therapy with ribavirin and interferon for chronic HCV infection in elderly patients has not been fully clarified. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of combination therapy in such patients.Methods:  Two hundred and twenty consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C were treated with combination therapy. These patients were divided into two groups according to age: patients ≥ 60 years (n = 66) and patients < 60 years (n = 154). Clinical characteristics, the sustained virologic response (SVR) rate obtained by intention‐to‐treat analysis, and the rate of reduction or discontinuation of ribavirin were compared between the two groups.Results:  The ribavirin discontinuation rate was significantly higher in the patients aged ≥60 years than in the patients aged <60 years. However, the SVR rates did not differ significantly between patients aged ≥60 years and those aged <60 years (31.8% vs 38.3% by intention‐to‐treat analysis). According to multivariate analysis, genotype and HCV viral load were significantly associated with SVR while patient age did not affect SVR.Conclusions:  Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with combination therapy was comparably effective between patients aged ≥60 years and those aged <60 years, although the ribavirin discontinuation rate was higher among the older patients than the younger patients.
Living donor liver transplantation for hepatitis B cirrhosis
Authors: Karasu Zeki , Akyildiz Murat , Kilic Murat , Zeytunlu Murat , Aydin Unal , Tekin Fatih , Yilmaz Funda , Ozacar Tijen , Akarca Ulus , Ersoz Galip , Gunsar Fulya , Ilter Tankut , Lucey Michael R 
Published: December 2006

AbstractBackground and Aim:  Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) has particular advantages for Turkey where hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the most common cause of cirrhosis, both because LDLT circumvents the difficulties encountered in the emerging world in providing deceased donor organs, and because it allows preemptive antiviral therapy. The aim of this study was to review one institution's experience with LDLT in patients with chronic HBV infection.Methods:  A total of 109 patients with chronic HBV infection underwent LDLT between September 1999 and June 2005, of whom 40 were coinfected with hepatitis D virus and 23 had hepatocellular carcinoma. Antiviral prophylaxis was attempted in all, beginning prior to transplantation with lamivudine or adefovir, and continuing after transplantation with low dose intramuscular hyperimmune B immunoglobulin (HBIg) plus lamivudine or adefovir.Results:  In a median follow up of 20 months (range 1–66 months), there was no donor mortality. One‐year recipient survival was 90%, and in total 16 recipients died. None of the deaths was related to HBV. Recurrence of HBV infection was detected by reappearance of serum hepatitis B surface antigen in six patients (5.5%) at 5, 8, 12, 17, 34 and 46 months after transplantation, respectively. There was no influence of donor hepatitis B core antibody status on the likelihood of recurrence of HBV in the allograft.Conclusion:  The results indicate that LDLT with antiviral treatment and low dose HBIg provides excellent results for donors and recipients.
EVALUATION OF GASTRIC ULCER AFTER ENDOSCOPIC INJECTION SCLEROTHERAPY FOR ESOPHAGEAL VARICES
Authors: Sato Takahiro , Yamazaki Katsu , Toyota Jouji , Karino Yoshiyasu , Ohmura Takumi , Akaike Jun , Kuwata Yasuaki , Arakawa Tomohiro , Suga Toshihiro 
Published: December 2006

Background:  Endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS) is an effective procedure for the treatment of esophageal varices. In the present study, the pathogenesis of gastric ulcer after EIS for esophageal varices was investigated.Methods:  EIS for esophageal varices was performed for 610 patients in our department, and the frequency and clinical course of gastric ulcer after EIS were investigated retrospectively. EIS was performed using 5% ethanolamine oleate with iopamidol, which was injected intermittently under fluoroscopy.Results:  Gastric ulcer after EIS for esophageal varices was observed in 14 of the 610 (2.3%) patients. These were located around the cardia of the stomach from the fornix to the gastric body. Gastric ulcer extended from the stomach lining into the esophagus in 11 of the 14 cases. Severe chest pain was observed, and dark purple mucosal changes of the esophagus and stomach were detected endoscopically at the time of injection in all 14 cases. All cases received dripping therapy, and prescription of a proton pump inhibitor. Gastric ulcer after EIS was refractory, and almost 2 months was required until the healing stage was reached.Conclusion:  Gastric ulcer after EIS for esophageal varices is a rare but important complication of EIS.
ANALYSIS OF BURIED BUMPER SYNDROME AFTER PERCUTANEOUS ENDOSCOPIC GASTROSTOMY DUE TO USE OF A BUTTON‐TYPE KIT
Authors: Usuba Teruyuki , Suzuki Yutaka , Kuramochi Akira , Tajiri Hisao , Yanaga Katsuhiko 
Published: December 2006

Background:  Buried bumper syndrome (BBS) is a rare complication of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). Along with the widespread use of the button‐type kit, BBS is encountered frequently.Methods:  In the present study, we examined causes and treatments for BBS among 1400 patients who had undergone PEG.Results:  The causes of BBS after PEG were classified into two categories: early causes consisted of wound infection, inappropriate size of kit and severe lordosis, while late causes were inappropriate exchange of kit, rough management or weight gain. The treatments for BBS could be determined by the degree of wound infection, fistula and burial of the bumper.Conclusion:  We prepared a flowchart for replacement, by which BBS can be managed safely and quickly without surgical or endoscopic intervention.
Chemosensory and steroid‐responsive regions of the medial amygdala regulate distinct aspects of opposite‐sex odor preference in male Syrian hamsters
Authors: Maras Pamela M. , Petrulis Aras 
Published: December 2006

AbstractIn rodent species, such as the Syrian hamster, the expression of sexual preference requires neural integration of social chemosensory signals and steroid hormone cues. Although anatomical data suggest that separate pathways within the nervous system process these two signals, the functional significance of this separation is not well understood. Specifically, within the medial amygdala, the anterior region (MEa) receives input from the olfactory bulbs and other chemosensory areas, whereas the posterodorsal region (MEpd) contains a dense population of steroid receptors and receives less substantial chemosensory input. Consequently, the MEa may subserve a primarily discriminative function, whereas the MEpd may mediate the permissive effects of sex steroids on sexual preference. To test these hypotheses, we measured preference and attraction to female and male odors in males with lesions of either the MEa or MEpd. In Experiment 1, lesions of either region eliminated opposite‐sex odor preferences. Importantly, MEpd‐lesioned males displayed decreased attraction toward female odors, suggesting decreased sexual motivation. In contrast, MEa‐lesioned males displayed high levels of investigation of both male and female odors, suggesting an inability to categorize the relevance of the odor stimuli. In Experiment 2, we verified that both MEa‐ and MEpd‐lesioned males could discriminate between female and male odors, thereby eliminating the possibility that the observed lack of preference reflected a sensory deficit. Taken together, these results suggest that both the MEa and MEpd are critical for the expression of opposite‐sex odor preference, although they appear to mediate distinct aspects of this behavior.
Monoamine oxidase A rather than monoamine oxidase B inhibition increases nicotine reinforcement in rats
Authors: Guillem Karine , Vouillac Caroline , Azar Marc R. , Parsons Loren H. , Koob George F. , Cador Martine , Stinus Luis 
Published: December 2006

AbstractAlthough nicotine is considered to be responsible for the addictive properties of tobacco, growing evidence underlines the importance of non‐nicotine components in smoking reinforcement. It has been shown that tobacco smoke contains monoamine oxidase (MAO) A and B inhibitors and decreases MAO‐A and MAO‐B activity in smokers. Here, we investigated the effects of clorgyline hydrochloride (irreversible MAO‐A inhibitor; 2 mg/kg/day), selegiline (irreversible MAO‐B inhibitor; 4 mg/kg) and the beta‐carboline norharmane hydrochloride (reversible MAO‐B inhibitor; 5 mg/kg/day) treatments on nicotine self‐administration (30 µg/kg/infusion, free base) in rats. Independent of the responsiveness to novelty and locomotor activity stimulation, only clorgyline hydrochloride treatment increased the intake of nicotine in a fixed‐ratio schedule (FR5) of reinforcement. When a progressive‐ratio schedule was implemented, both clorgyline hydrochloride and norharmane hydrochloride treatments potentiated the reinforcing effects of nicotine, whereas selegiline had no effect. Taken together, these results indicate that MAO‐A inhibition interacts with nicotine to enhance its rewarding effects in rats and suggest that other compounds present in tobacco, such as beta‐carboline, may also play an important role in sustaining smoking behavior in humans.
Riluzole promotes cell survival and neurite outgrowth in rat sensory neuronesin vitro
Authors: Shortland Peter J. , Leinster Veronica H. L. , White William , Robson Lesley G. 
Published: December 2006

AbstractThis study explored the effects of riluzole administration on cell survival and neurite growth in adult and neonatal rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuronesin vitro. Neuronal survival was assessed by comparing numbers of remaining neurones in vehicle‐ and riluzole‐treated cultures. A single dose of 0.1 µmriluzole was sufficient to promote neuronal survival in neonatal DRG cultures, whereas repeated riluzole administration was necessary in adult cultures. However, a single administration of riluzole was sufficient to induce neuritogenesis, promote neurite branching and enhance neurite outgrowth in both neonatal and adult DRG cultures. The effects of a single dose of riluzole on adult DRG neurones after peripheral nerve or dorsal root injury were also studiedin vitroat 48 h. For both types of injury, riluzole enhanced neurite outgrowth in terms of number, length and branch pattern significantly more on the injured side as compared with the contralateral side. No effect was seen on cell survival. The results suggest that, in addition to its cell survival effects, riluzole has novel growth‐promoting effects on sensory neuronesin vitroand that riluzole may offer a new way to promote sensory afferent regeneration following peripheral injury.
Evidence for time‐variant decision making
Authors: Ditterich Jochen 
Published: December 2006

AbstractComputational models based on diffusion processes have been proposed to account for human decision‐making behaviour in a variety of tasks. The basic idea is that the brain keeps accumulating noisy sensory evidence until a critical level is reached. This study explores whether such models account for the speed and accuracy of perceptual decisions in a reaction‐time random dot motion direction discrimination task, and whether they explain the decision‐related activity of neurons recorded from the parietal cortex (area LIP) of monkeys performing the task. While a simple diffusion model can explain the psychometric function and the mean response times of correct responses, it fails to account for the longer response times observed for errors and for the response time distributions. Here I demonstrate that a time‐variant version of the diffusion model can explain the psychometric function, the mean response times and the shape of the response time distributions. Such a time‐variant mechanism could be implemented in different ways, but the best match between the physiological data and model predictions is provided by a diffusion process with a gain of the sensory signals, which increases over time. It can be shown that such a time‐variant decision process allows the monkey to perform optimally (in the sense of maximizing reward rate) given the risk of aborting a trial by breaking fixation before a choice can be reported. The results suggest that the brain trades off speed and accuracy not only by adjusting parameters between trials but also by dynamic adjustments during an ongoing decision.
Degeneration of noradrenergic fibres from the locus coeruleus causes tight‐junction disorganisation in the rat brain
Authors: Kalinin Sergey , Feinstein Douglas L. , Xu Hao‐Liang , Huesa Gema , Pelligrino Dale A. , Galea Elena 
Published: December 2006

AbstractAlthough functional studies demonstrate that noradrenaline controls the permeability of the blood–brain barrier, it has never been determined whether this neurotransmitter regulates the tight junction (TJ) assembly that confers the barrier property to brain microvessels. We thus tested in rats the effect of pharmacological depletion of noradrenaline with the noradrenergic toxin DSP4 (5 mg/kg) on the expression of the TJ proteins zonula occludens‐1 (ZO1) and occludin. The effectiveness of the lesion was confirmed by tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity, which showed noradrenergic fibre reduction accompanied by debris and swollen fibres in DSP4‐treated brains. Noradrenergic fibre degeneration caused: (i) gliosis; (ii) disappearance of TJ proteins in vascular cell‐to‐cell contacts (49.9 and 38.3% reductions for occludin and ZO1, respectively); (iii) a 49.2% decrease in total ZO1 protein, measured by Western blot analysis, parallel to a 39.5% decrease in ZO1 mRNA, measured by real‐time PCR; and (iv) a relative increase in the beta occludin isoform (62.9%), with no change in total occludin protein or mRNA. The expression of endothelial brain antigen, a marker of a functionally competent brain endothelium, was also reduced. We conclude that damage to the ascending fibres from the locus coeruleus caused TJ disruption and gliosis, a sign of inflammation. These results imply that the locus coeruleus degeneration reported in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases may contribute to these disorders by causing blood–brain barrier dysfunction. Whether the vascular damage is the result of impaired noradrenergic transmission or secondary to the inflammatory reaction remains to be determined.