bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Emerging endocrine disrupters: perfluoroalkylated substances
Authors: Jensen Allan Astrup , Leffers Henrik 
Published: March 2008

SummaryIn recent years, polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) have increasingly been used as surfactants in various industry‐ and consumer products, because of their unique properties as repellents of dirt, water and oils. The most well‐known PFCs are perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and their derivatives belonging to the group of perfluoroalkylated substances. The PFCs are very persistent in the environment, and some of them have been discovered as global pollutants of air, water, soil and wildlife and even found in remote polar areas. Bioaccumulation occurs also in humans, and everybody in our society has traces of these PFCs in their blood and internal organs such as the liver, kidneys, spleen, gall bladder and testes. In the blood, PFOS and PFOA are bound to serum proteins. The acute toxicity of the polyfluorinated substances is moderate but some substances can induce peroxisome proliferation in rat livers and may change the fluidity of cell membranes. Some of these PFCs, such as PFOS and PFOA, are potential developmental toxicants and are suspected endocrine disruptors with effects on sex hormone levels resulting in lower testosterone levels and higher oestradiol level. Other PFCs have oestrogenic effects in cell cultures. The industrial production of PFOS and its derivatives stopped in 2000, and the European Union has banned most uses from the summer of 2008. However, hundreds of related chemicals: homologues with shorter or longer alkyl chain, PFOA and telomers, which potentially may degrade to perfluoroalkanoic (carboxylic) acids, are not regulated.
Dimensions of informal care in Greece: the family's contribution to the care of patients hospitalized in an oncology hospital
Authors: Sapountzi‐Krepia Despina , Raftopoulos Vasilios , Psychogiou Maria , Sakellari Evanthia , Toris Anastasios , Vrettos Anargyros , Arsenos Panagiotis 
Published: March 2008

Aims and objectives.  This study aims to explore the kind and frequency of care provided to hospitalized cancer patients by relatives and the reasons for providing this care.Background.  Informal care is a common phenomenon across many countries. In Greece, informal caring activities occur in most hospitals. Patients’ relatives stay by their bedside for long hours and assist with care. This phenomenon is highly correlated with the nursing staff shortage.Method.  This study was carried out in a Greek oncology hospital. The sample consisted of 150 informal caregivers. We used a 37‐item questionnaire called In‐Hospital Informal Care Questionnaire Acute Care.Results.  The participants provide substantial help to their patients daily. On average, they stay by their bedside for 20·23 hours in a 24‐hour period. Additionally, 104 participants stated that they hire a privately paid patient's helper.The relatives stay by their patients’ bedside for various reasons such as: (1) severity of the condition; (2) providing psychological support; (3) family tradition; (4) because they do not believe their patients are safe in the hospital without their supervision; or (5) the nursing staff shortage.Conclusions.  The participants offer informal care that reflects specific nursing duties. We could argue that Greek hospitals ‘use’ relatives as unpaid labour to compensate for the nursing shortage. It is disquieting that usually someone from the hospital staff suggests to the relatives to stay at the patient's bedside even after visiting hours or to hire a private paid patient's helper. This implies that the staff considers such contribution necessary.Relevance to clinical practice.  The findings show that relatives perform daily tasks that nurses should be performing. They indicate that the hospital should introduce specific staffing policies for reducing families’ burden. Our findings could influence future staffing plans of nursing managers, policy makers or health authorities.
Patterns of quantitative food‐specific IgE‐antibodies and reported food hypersensitivity in 4‐year‐old children
Authors: Östblom E. , Lilja G. , Ahlstedt S. , Van Hage M. , Wickman M. 
Published: March 2008

Background:  Diagnosis of food hypersensitivity (FHS) is difficult and interpretation of food allergy tests is complicated.Objective:  To investigate the probability of reported FHS in relation to levels of food‐specific IgE‐antibodies (AB) in a population‐based setting of 4‐year‐old children (n = 2336).Methods:  Information on FHS was obtained from a questionnaire and specific IgE‐AB to milk, egg, fish, peanut, soy and wheat were analysed.Results:  Thirty‐one per cent of the children with reported FHS (n = 284) were sensitized (≥0.35 kUA/l) to at least one of the tested foods compared with 11% of children without FHS (n = 2052). Furthermore, the probability of reported symptoms to milk, egg and fish increased with increasing levels of food‐specific IgE‐AB to the same food allergens. A similar trend was seen for peanut and wheat, but not for soy. Increasing levels of specific IgE‐AB to milk or egg were also associated with an increasing risk of reported symptoms caused by other foods.Conclusions:  Quantitative measurements of IgE‐AB to milk, egg and fish are useful to evaluate IgE‐associated FHS in preschool children also in a population based sample. Such measurements appear to be of limited value for soy bean and wheat, in particular as a screening method.
Anti‐proliferative and anti‐remodelling effect of beclomethasone dipropionate, formoterol and salbutamol alone or in combination in primary human bronchial fibroblasts
Authors: Descalzi D. , Folli C. , Nicolini G. , Riccio A. M. , Gamalero C. , Scordamaglia F. , Canonica G. W. 
Published: March 2008

Background:  Bronchial asthma is characterized by lower airway inflammation and remodelling. Anti‐inflammatory treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) provides the mainstay of asthma therapy together with bronchodilation induced by short‐ and long‐acting inhaled β2‐agonists. Lower airway fibroblasts may play a critical role in airway inflammation and remodelling, suggesting that they might represent an important target for the major anti‐asthmatic drugs. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), salbutamol and formoterol either alone or in combination on in vitro cultures of human bronchial fibroblasts.Methods:  Fibroblasts were cultured in the presence of pro‐inflammatory and proliferative stimuli, BDP, salbutamol and formoterol. The effects of drugs on cell proliferation were ascertained by 3H‐thymidine incorporation. CD90 and CD44 expression were detected by flow cytometry and fibronectin secretion using the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay technique.Results:  This study showed that BDP alone has significant anti‐proliferative effects on lung fibroblasts treated with basic fibroblast growth factor and the combination of BDP with formoterol or salbutamol strengthen these effects. Short‐acting β2‐agonist (SABA) or long‐acting β2‐agonist (LABA) by themselves did not show any significant effect on the different cultures. CD44 and CD90 expression and fibronectin production were modulated by pro‐inflammatory and proliferative stimuli; the addition of the drugs brought them back near to the basal level.Conclusions:  From this in vitro study, we can conclude that BDP, when combined with salbutamol or formoterol, exhibits enhanced anti‐remodelling activity in bronchial fibroblasts, providing new insights on the additive effects of ICS and SABAs and LABAs for asthma therapy.
Distinct association of genetic variations of vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor‐β, and fibroblast growth factor receptors with atopy and airway hyperresponsiveness
Authors: Park H.‐K. , Park H.W. , Jeon S.G. , Shin E.‐S. , Gho Y.S. , Cho S.‐H. , Kim Y.‐Y. , Kim Y.‐K. 
Published: March 2008

Background:  Recent studies showed that high levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 in the airways reduced airway responsiveness, which was reversed in conditions of basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF2) deficiency, whereas high levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) enhanced airway sensitization to allergens and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR).Objective:  We investigated the effect of single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the VEGF, TGF‐β1, and FGF2 receptors on the expression of atopy and AHR in the general population.Methods:  Atopy and AHR were evaluated in a cohort of 2055 children and adolescents. Direct sequencing was used to identify informative SNPs (minor allele frequency >5%) in the receptors of candidate genes. Tagging SNPs were scored using the high‐throughput single‐base pair extension method, and the statistical significance of these scores was assessed via haplotype analysis.Results:  Informative SNPs were identified for VEGF receptors 1 (Flt‐1); TGF‐β receptor 3 (TGFBR3); and FGR receptors 1, 2, and 4 (FGFR1, FGFR2, and FGFR4), and 13 tagging SNPs were scored in the cohort. Atopy was significantly associated with haplotypes of TGFBR3, FGFR1, and FGFR2. Meanwhile, AHR was significantly associated with haplotypes of Flt‐1, FGFR1, and FGFR4. However, atopy was not associated with genetic variations of Flt‐1 and FGFR4, whereas AHR not associated with TGFBR3 and FGFR2.Conclusion:  The expression of atopy and AHR is distinctly associated with genetic variations in VEGF, TGF‐β1, and FGFR in the Korean population.
Identification of spore allergens from the indoor mould Aspergillus versicolor
Authors: Benndorf D. , Müller A. , Bock K. , Manuwald O. , Herbarth O. , Von Bergen M. 
Published: March 2008

Background:  Indoor mould growth and dampness are associated with respiratory health effects and allergies and several studies demonstrated that mainly Aspergillus versicolor and Penicillium expansum are responsible for indoor mould exposure. In contrast, commercialized test systems to diagnose allergic reactions to this mould species are not available. In this study, allergenic proteins from spores of the indoor relevant species A. versicolor and P. expansum should get detected and identified.Methods:  We used two‐dimensional (2D)‐gel electrophoresis of spore proteins and immunoblotting with sera from patients participating in an epidemiologic study about indoor exposure of moulds and their influence on the development of allergies (ESTERSPEGA). Sera were screened for IgE antibodies specific for proteins from A. versicolor, A. fumigatus and P. expansum in one‐dimensional blots and in 2D immunoblots. From the 2D gels, the corresponding spots were picked and identified by mass spectrometry.Results:  More than 20 allergens from A. versicolor were identified; in particular, seven major allergens were selected, which were detected by more than 90% of the positive sera. The most abundant allergen was glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase, followed by an unnamed protein, which displays a high homology to sobitol/xylose reductase. The other allergens were identified as catalase A, hypothetical protein AN6918.2, enolase, hypothetical protein AN0297.2 and a protein with homology to a fungal malate dehydrogenase.Conclusions:  The results indicate an important role of spore proteins from A. versicolor for sensitization against indoor moulds and identification of the major allergens might enable species‐specific diagnosis of allergic reactions.
Comparison of expression profiles induced by dust mite in airway epithelia reveals a common pathway
Authors: Vroling A. B. , Jonker M. J. , Breit T. M. , Fokkens W. J. , Drunen C. M. van 
Published: March 2008

Background:  Airway epithelial cells have shown to be active participants in the defense against pathogens by producing signaling and other regulatory molecules in response to the encounter.Methods:  In previous manuscripts, we have studied the effect of house dust mite (HDM) extract on both an epithelial cell‐line (H292) and primary nasal epithelial cell. When we compare these responses we conclude that the H292 cells more closely resemble nasal epithelium of healthy controls (share 107 probe‐sets) than of allergic individuals (share 17 probe‐sets).Results:  Interestingly, probably because of an absent intraindividual variation between samples, more probe‐sets (8280) change expression significantly in H292 than in either healthy (555) or allergic (401) epithelium.Conclusions:  A direct comparison of all the responses in these epithelial cells reveals a core‐response to HDM of just 29 genes. These genes (CCL20, IL‐8, CXCL2, CXCL1, IL‐1B, AREG, TNFAIP3, HBEGF, PTGS2, BMP2, LDLR, PLAUR, PLAU, NFKB2, NFKB1, JUN, ATF3, EGR1, NPC1, TICAM1, EPHA2, CTGF, DUSP1, SPRY1, TLR‐3, complement factor C3, IVNS1ABP, SerpinB3, and PSAT1) have described links with allergy or inflammation and may even describe the well‐established relationship between viral infections and allergic exacerbations or allergy development.
Urban/rural differences in diet and atopy in South Africa
Authors: Hooper R. , Calvert J. , Thompson R. L. , Deetlefs M. E. , Burney P. 
Published: March 2008

Background:  There are large differences in the prevalence of atopic disease between urban and rural areas of developing countries, without good explanation. Diet has been associated with atopic disease, but studies of specific nutrients are contradictory, cross‐sectional studies often being unsupported by trials. We investigated diet as an explanation for the difference in the prevalence of atopy between urban and rural areas in South Africa.Methods:  A cross‐sectional analysis of food frequency questionnaires and allergen skin tests from 698 children aged 8–13 years, recruited from 24 schools in Cape Province, South Africa, who were taking part in a case–control study of exercise‐induced bronchospasm. Food frequency data were analysed with a principal components analysis (PCA).Results:  The first two principal components of diet explained 25% of the variance, and discriminated almost perfectly between urban and rural subjects. The ‘urban’ component of diet was strongly associated with positive skin tests even after adjusting for urban residence. There were no significant associations between individual foods or nutrients and positive skin tests, allowing for multiple testing.Conclusions:  Diet explains part of the difference in prevalence between urban and rural areas. The ability to demonstrate this using PCA, but not by exhaustive analysis of all foods, reflects the value of reducing the number of dietary dimensions. The number of foods and nutrients which can be assessed, and the possibility of confounding and effect modification, make it difficult to identify the features of diet most directly implicated in disease. This may explain inconsistencies in dietary studies.
Embolic aspergillus endophthalmitis in an immunocompetent patient from aortic root aspergillus endocarditis
Authors: Rana Mrinal , Fahad Badia , Abid Qamar 
Published: March 2008

SummaryWe report the first case of endogenous aspergillus endophthalmitis in an immunocompetent person with systemic aortic root aspergillus endocarditis.
Synergistic action of starch and honey against Aspergillus niger in correlation with Diastase Number
Authors: Boukraâ Laïd , Benbarek Hama , Ahmed Moussa 
Published: March 2008

SummaryTo evaluate the synergistic action of starch on the antifungal activity of honey, a comparative method of adding honey with and without starch to culture media was used. Aspergillus niger was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of five varieties of honey. In the second step, lower concentrations of honey than the MIC were incubated with a set of concentrations of starch and then added to media to determine the minimum synergistic inhibitory concentration (MSIC). The MIC for the five varieties of honey without starch against A. niger ranged between 46% and 50% (v/v). When starch was incubated with honey and then added to media, an MIC drop was noticed with each variety and it ranged between 6% and 19.5%. Negative correlation has been established between the MIC drop and the Diastase Number.
Transcription factor AP‐1 regulates TGF‐β1‐induced expression of aldose reductase in cultured human mesangial cells
Authors: JIANG TAO , QU JIE J , NISHINAKA TORU , ZHANG NONG 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY:Aim: The previous studies demonstrated that transforming growth factor‐β1(TGF‐β1) could upregulate the expression of aldose reductase (AR). The aim of this study is to clarify (investigate) the mechanism of TGF‐β1‐induced AR expression.Methods: Real‐time polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to analyse the AR expression in mRNA and protein levels in human mesangial cells, and reporter assay was used to analyse the function of various sites within 5′‐flanking region of AR gene in AR expression.Results: TGF‐β1(4 ng/mL) stimulation could upregulate AR expression. The cells pretreated with pharmacological inhibitors, U0126 and PD98059 for blocking extracellular signal‐related kinase (ERK) signalling pathway or SP6000125 for blocking c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) signalling pathway, respectively, showed reduced expression of AR after TGF‐β1stimulation. Similarly, the cells transiently transfected with pCMVTAM67, which is an expression plasmid for DN‐c‐Jun showed decreasing AR expression. Reporter assay revealed that the 5′‐promoter region of AR consisting of an AP‐1 site and two putative antioxidant response elements (ARE) was responsible for TGF‐β1stimulation. Mutation of either ARE did not affect the promoter activity in the reporter assay while mutation of AP‐1 site caused a significant decrease in the responsiveness to TGF‐β1.Conclusion: TGF‐β1upregulate AR expression in both mRNA and protein levels. The results demonstrated that ERK and JNK are involved in the downstream signalling pathways and transcription factor AP‐1 plays an important role in the regulation of TGF‐β1‐induced AR expression in mesangial cells.
Total and high molecular weight adiponectin concentrations in plasma of patients with end‐stage renal disease before and after peritoneal dialysis
Authors: PARK JAE‐HO , GIL HYO‐WOOK , YANG JONG‐OH , LEE EUN‐YOUNG , HONG SAE‐YONG 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY:Background:  Adiponectin is an antiatherogenic adipocyte‐derived proteins. The level of plasma adiponectin is inversely correlated to cardiovascular risk in patients with end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). The aim of this study was to elucidate the changes of adiponectin concentrations in newly diagnosed ESRD patients after peritoneal dialysis.Methods:  In 16 newly diagnosed ESRD patients, total concentrations of adiponectin and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin, the HMW ratio (HMWR; ratio of the plasma level of HMW adiponectin to that of total adiponectin), the body mass index (BMI), insulin concentrations, blood glucose and estimation of the insulin sensitivity index by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMRIR) were compared before and after 1 year of peritoneal dialysis.Results:  Plasma total adiponectin was decreased from 15.52 ± 9.35 μg/mL to 11.80 ± 6.84 μg/mL (P = 0.046), HMW adiponectin was decreased from 9.05 ± 6.48 μg/mL to 4.83 ± 4.15 μg/mL (P = 0.009), and HMWR was decreased from 0.51 ± 0.18 to 0.35 ± 0.20 (P = 0.008). Total and HMW adiponectin/BMI ratio was decreased. The BMI was increased from 25.2 ± 5.7 to 25.8 ± 6.2 (P = 0.036). The HOMRIR, insulin level and lipid profile were not changed.Conclusion:  Total adiponectin, HMW adiponectin and HMWR were decreased in newly diagnosed ESRD patients after 1 year of peritoneal dialysis. The factors that influence the decrease of the level of adiponectin should be studied in a larger prospective study.
Urinary kallikrein excretion is related to renal function change and inflammatory status in chronic kidney disease patients receiving angiotensin II receptor blocker treatment
Authors: CHIANG WEN‐CHIH , LIN SHUEI‐LIONG , CHEN YUNG‐MING , WU KWAN‐DUN , TSAI TUN‐JUN 
Published: March 2008

SUMMARY:Aim:  This study was to evaluate the correlation of urinary kallikrein to renal function, proteinuria and urinary cytokines in chronic kidney disease patients in a longitudinal follow up.Method:  We measured urinary kallikrein and cytokines in 50 patients who were followed up for 12 months.Results:  Using regression model we found that the kallikrein excretion (estimated by log kallikrein/creatinine) was positively correlated to log estimated glomerular filtration rate in the beginning and the end of follow up (P = 0.049 and 0.006, respectively). No correlation existed between kallikrein excretion and proteinuria. The kallikrein excretion decreased after 12 months of follow up, which was also associated with the decrease of log estimated glomerular filtration rate. There was a significant positive correlation between the log urinary kallikrein and monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) concentration (correlation coefficient = 0.277; P = 0.049). Urinary kallikrein excretion was also positively correlated with serum MCP‐1 level (correlation coefficient = 0.431; P = 0.002). No correlation existed between urinary kallikrein and transforming growth factor β‐1 or tumour necrosis factor‐α concentration.Conclusion:  Urinary kallikrein excretion is positively correlated to renal function, serum and urinary inflammatory mediator MCP‐1 in chronic kidney disease patients. These findings indicate that urinary kallikrein excretion may reflect the change of renal function and kidney inflammatory status.
Radiotherapy in rectal cancer: Is it time for change? A qualitative analysis of the national questionnaire survey of members of ACPGBI on preliminary CRO7 results
Authors: Srinivasaiah N. , Monson J. R. 
Published: March 2008

AbstractBackground  A national questionnaire survey on management of rectal cancer suggested that despite the evidence of the CRO7 trial supporting the use of neoadjuvant short‐course radiotherapy for operable rectal cancer, approximately two‐thirds of consultant surgeons in the UK still have to implement this treatment regime routinely. However, 39% of surgeons have changed their practice following the early dissemination of trial results. Change in clinical practice is driven by a number of factors.Aim  To determine factors influencing changing clinical practice in the use of radiotherapy in rectal cancer.Method  A 14‐item questionnaire was designed to inquire into the current management strategy of operable rectal cancer and the possible role of neoadjuvant radiotherapy. A postal questionnaire survey was sent to all the active consultant members of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland. Data for this article have been drawn from the subset of results constituting the comments section in the questionnaire. Qualitative methodology was adopted to analyse the comments section.Results  Of 400 questionnaires, 200 (50%) were returned completed. Of these, only 52 (26%) surgeons completed the comments section. Themes that emerged from thematic analysis were: Patient groups, Treatment, Evidence‐based practice (EBP), Professional consensus and Service provisions. The derived outcomes were: individualization of treatment, safer and less harmful treatment, increased role of multidisciplinary teams, need to increase awareness of the current evidence‐based literature, develop protocols and guidelines along with shortening the delay in implementing EBP and good service provisions.Conclusion  In conclusion, change in practice is a slow and complex process influenced not only by data and scientific evidence, but also by a combination of other factors. Some of them are Clinical decision making, EBP/Education, Research Translation and Organizational factors with Infrastructure/Resources. Some of the above‐mentioned conclusions will aid the policy makers and the opinion leaders in the National Health Service (NHS).