bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing the contribution of birth asphyxia to cerebral palsy in term singletons
Authors: Yudkin Patricia L. , Johnsont Ann , Clover Linda M. , Murphy Karl W. 
Published: April 2008

Summary. In a geographically‐based study, we investigated the risk of cerebral palsy following intrapartum asphyxia at term, and the contribution of intrapartum asphyxia at term to the overall rate of cerebral palsy. We used stringent criteria for identifying intrapartum asphyxia, while recognising that the initial hypoxial insult might have occurred in the antenatal period.In the first part of the investigation, a cohort of 160 term, singleton infants, with a low (≤ 3) 1‐minute Apgar score, was followed to the age of 5 years. Six infants in the cohort had presumed intrapartum asphyxia, of whom two died in the neonatal period, three had spastic quadriparesis, profound developmental delay and visual impairment, and one was unimpaired. The frequency of cerebral palsy associated with birth asphyxia was estimated as one in 3700 full‐term livebirths.To assess the impact of birth asphyxia on the overall rate of cerebral palsy, all cases of cerebral palsy born in the study period were identified. Of the 30 cases, the three identified in the follow‐up study were the only ones whose impairment could be attributed to birth asphyxia in a full‐term birth. Birth asphyxia at term therefore was associated with 10% [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1,26.5] of all cases of cerebral palsy and with 20% (95% CI 4.3,48.1) of the 15 cases of cerebral palsy in children born at term.
The presence of DRB1*01 allele in multiple myeloma patients is associated with an indolent disease
Authors: Alcoceba M. , Marín L. , Balanzategui A. , Sarasquete M. E. , Martín‐Jiménez P. , Chillón M. C. , Corral R. , Pérez‐Persona E. , Fernández‐Calvo F. J. , Hernández J. M. , Bladé J. , Lahuerta J. J. , González M. , San Miguel J. F. , García‐Sanz R. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system could play an essential role in multiple myeloma (MM) disease control. This report describes the results comparing HLA‐DRB1 phenotypic frequencies in 181 MM patients (53 smoldering/indolent MM and 128 symptomatic MM patients) and healthy individuals. Higher DRB1*01 phenotypic frequencies were found in the smoldering patients compared with symptomatic MM patients (38% vs 14%, P = 0.001) and with the healthy individuals (38% vs 22%, P = 0.01). Additionally, higher DRB1*07 phenotypic frequencies were found in symptomatic MM compared with control population (38% vs 28%, P = 0.01). The present data suggest that HLA‐DRB1*01 individuals may have a better ability to efficiently present myeloma‐related antigens to immunocompetent cells, which could favor a better immune response against the tumor. This would translate into a more appropriate disease control associated with more indolent disease and prolonged survival.
Chronic high Epstein‐Barr viral load carriage in pediatric liver transplant recipients
Authors: Green Michael , Soltys Kyle , Rowe David T. , Webber Steven A. , Mazareigos George 
Published: April 2008

Abstract: Development of EBV disease and PTLD is usually accompanied by the detection of a high EBV load in peripheral blood. However, many children undergoing primary EBV infection following LTx will maintain chronically elevated EBV loads in the absence of clinical symptoms. To better understand this phenomenon, we retrospectively reviewed the records of children undergoing LTx at our center from 1997 to 2007 to identify chronic high EBV load carriers in this population. A CHL state was defined by the presence of a high load for >50% of samples for greater than or equal to six months following either asymptomatic or complete clinical resolution of EBV disease/PTLD. A total of 35 CHL carriers were identified. Pretransplant serologies were available for 29 of the 35; 22/29 (76%) were EBV negative prior to LTx; eight of these 22 developed their CHL state at the time of their primary EBV infection. Fourteen of the 35 had EBV disease (n = 7) or PTLD (n = 7) prior to development of the CHL state. Only one of 35 CHL carriers developed PTLD or lymphoma while they were a high load carrier. In all, 23/35 resolved their CHL state without apparent sequelae while 11 children continue to be asymptomatic high load carriers. These data provide important information about the outcome of chronic EBV high load carriage in pediatric liver transplant recipients.
A high pretreatment plasma oestradiol level is associated with a low risk of acute myocardial infarction in parenteral oestrogen therapy for locally advanced prostate cancer
Authors: Mikkola Arto K.K. , Aro Jussi L.V. , Rannikko A.S. Sakari , Ruutu Mirja L. ,   on Behalf of the Finnprostate Group
Published: April 2008

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship of pretreatment plasma oestradiol (ppE2) and testosterone (ppT) level to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer primarily treated with parenteral polyoestradiol phosphate (PEP) or orchidectomy, considering the effect of age, performance status, pretreatment diseases and medication, and tumour stage and grade.PATIENTS AND METHODSThe present Finnprostate 6 study comprised 234 patients randomized to oestradiol or intramuscularly administered PEP (240 mg/month) therapy. Each patient was followed until the end of the primary therapy (up to 10 years) or until the first AMI (lethal or not).RESULTSThe risk of AMI, when the PEP and orchidectomy groups were analysed together, was lower in patients with a high ppE2 level, and this risk was independent of the ppT level, pretreatment diseases, medication, age, performance status, disease stage or grade. In the PEP therapy group the risk of AMI was statistically significantly lower in patients with a high ppE2 level (≥93 pmol/L) than in those with a low ppE2 level (<93 pmol/L; risk ratio 0.28, 95% confidence interval 0.10–0.84, P = 0.022). There was no such difference in the orchidectomy group. The ppT level had no association with the risk of AMI.CONCLUSIONSA high ppE2 level is associated with a low risk of AMI in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer treated with PEP; there was no such association for ppT level. In the orchidectomy group the ppE2 or ppT level was not statistically significantly associated with the risk of AMI.
A phase II study of mifepristone (RU‐486) in castration‐resistant prostate cancer, with a correlative assessment of androgen‐related hormones
Authors: Taplin Mary‐Ellen , Manola Judith , Oh William K. , Kantoff Philip W. , Bubley Glenn J. , Smith Matthew , Barb Diana , Mantzoros Christos , Gelmann Edward P. , Balk Steven P. 
Published: April 2008

OBJECTIVETo evaluate mifepristone (RU‐486) in patients with castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), with a correlative assessment of serum androgens and androgen metabolitesPATIENTS AND METHODSThe androgen receptor (AR) is critical in the development and progression of prostate cancer, but available antiandrogens incompletely abrogate AR signalling. Mifepristone is a potent AR antagonist that functions by competing with androgen, preventing AR coactivator binding and by enhancing binding of AR corepressors. Patients with CRPC were treated with mifepristone 200 mg/day oral until disease progression. Testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), androstenedione, dihydroepiandrosterone sulphate and the testosterone metabolite 3α‐diol G, were measured at baseline and during therapy.RESULTSNineteen patients were enrolled between April and August 2005; they were treated for a median (range) of 85 (31–338) days. The median prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) level at enrolment was 22.0 (3.0–937.2) ng/mL. No patient had a PSA response (>50% reduction in PSA). Six patients had stable disease for a median of 5.5 months. After 1 month, adrenal androgens were increased and testosterone and DHT increased by 91% and 80%, respectively, compared to baseline.CONCLUSIONMifepristone had limited activity in patients with CRPC, and stimulated a marked increase in adrenal androgens, testosterone and DHT. We hypothesise that inhibition of glucocorticoid receptor by mifepristone resulted in an increase in adrenocorticotropic hormone and subsequent increase in adrenal androgens, and that their conversion by tumour cells to testosterone and DHT probably limited the efficacy of mifepristone. These data emphasize the continued importance of alternative androgen sources in AR signalling in CRPC.
Effects of induced stress on experimental pain sensitivity in chronic tension‐type headache sufferers
Authors: Cathcart S. , Petkov J. , Pritchard D. 
Published: April 2008

Background and purpose:  It has been proposed that stress may contribute to chronic tension‐type headache (CTH) through hyperalgesic effects on already sensitized pain pathways in CTH sufferers. This hypothesis could be partially tested by examining effects of stress on mechanical and thermal pain sensitivity in CTH sufferers. Such examinations have not been reported to date.Materials and methods:  In the present study, we measured cephalic and extra‐cephalic pressure [pressure‐pain threshold (PPT)] and cold‐pain thresholds (CPT) in CTH sufferers (n = 8 females, n = 8 males) and healthy control subjects (n = 8 males, n = 7 females) recruited from the general population before and after exposure to a 15‐min stressful mental task.Results:  Results indicated that PPT’s at head and hand were lower in the CTH compared with control group both before and after task exposure. PPT’s and CPT’s decreased from pre‐ to post‐task in both groups, with a significantly greater pre‐ to post‐task reduction in cephalic PPT in the CTH compared with control group. Subjective stress increased from pre‐ to post‐task in both groups and did not differ between groups. In the CTH group, stress reactivity was negatively correlated with PPT’s, whilst absolute stress levels were positively correlated with pre‐ to post‐task decrease in PPT’s.Conclusions:  The main finding is an enhanced hyperalgesic effect of stress on cephalic pressure‐pain sensitivity in the CTH sufferers compared with the healthy controls. The results support the hypothesis that stress may contribute to CTH through hyperalgesic effects on already sensitized pain pathways in CTH sufferers.
The manufacture and some quality characteristics of kurut, a dried dairy product
Authors: KAMBER UFUK 
Published: April 2008

This study was designed to investigate the microbiological and chemical characteristics of kurut, a dairy product obtained by drying yogurt under the sun in rural areas of Turkey. For this purpose, 50 randomly collected kurut samples from the Kars Region were analysed for determination of their microbiological and chemical characteristics. Analysis of kurut samples showed that kurut contained on average 4.52 log10 cfu/g of aerobic mesophilic bacteria, 2.78 log10 cfu/g of aerobic mesophyl spores, 3.60 log10 cfu/g of lactic acid bacteria, 3.60 log10 cfu/g of Lactococcus, 3.94 log10 cfu/g of mould and yeast, 2.13 log10 cfu/g of Enterobacteriaceae, l.51 log10 cfu/g of sulphite‐reducing clostridia, and 1.81 log10 cfu/g of coagulase‐positive staphylococci. Coliform bacteria and enterococci bacteria were not detected in any of the kurut samples. Furthermore, chemical characteristics of the kurut were as follows: pH 4.2, acidity (lactic acid) 2.9, moisture 12.1%, fat 45.9% protein 25.5%, salt 6.7% and ash 10.0%. The quality characteristics of kurut presented here may help create a different perspective for new products to be produced in the dairy sector.
Interrelationship between splanchnic and leg exchange of glucose and other blood‐borne energy metabolites during abdominal surgical trauma
Authors: Stjernström Hans , Jorfeldt Lennart , Wiklund Lars 
Published: April 2008

Summary. In eight patients undergoing cholecystectomy, measurements of leg blood flow, splanchnic blood flow and arterio‐venous differences in oxygen, glucose, lactate, pyruvate, glycerol, 3‐hydroxybutyrate and alanine were made. Splanchnic glucose release averaged 1 1 mmol/min. The uptake of glucose into leg tissue was low. The rise in arterial glucose concentration was about I mmol/h during surgery. At the end of surgery splanchnic oxygen uptake was increased by 70% and the alanine uptake into the same region was comparable to that described in patients with septic complications of surgery. The plasma insulin concentration was low compared with the arterial glucose level.The data suggest that during abdominal surgery (a) increase in arterial glucose concentration can be fully accounted for by slightly increased splanchnic glucose release and a low peripheral utilization; (b) release of gluconeogenic substrates from peripheral tissues is balanced by splanchnic uptake; (c) disturbed relation between glucose and insulin, enhanced gluconeogenesis, increased splanchnic oxygen uptake and fat‐mobilizing lipolysis are in accordance with a raised sympatho‐adrenergic activity.
Effect of intra‐arterially induced OC ‐ receptor blockade upon resistance in collateral arteries in patients with occlusion of the superficial femoral artery
Authors: Agerskov K. , Henriksen O. 
Published: April 2008

Summary. The effect of intra‐arterially phentolamine inducing a‐receptor blockade upon the resistance in collateral arteries bypassing an occulusion of the femoral artery was studied in five patients. The patients were placed on a tilt table and the measurements were performed with the patients in supine position and tilted 40o (head‐up). Arterial blood pressure was measured directly in the brachial–common femoral–and popliteal artery. Relative blood flow was calculated as the relative change in arterio‐venous oxygen saturation.Head‐up tilt caused a decrease in blood flow of about 35% corresponding to an increase in total vascular resistance of 38%. Resistance in collateral arteries increased by 45%. In supine position a‐receptor blockade reduced collateral resistance by 17%. However, the tilt‐induced constriction of the collateral arteries was blocked by 87%.The results indicate that the constriction of the collateral arteries bypassing an occlusion of the superficial femoral artery is mainly mediated via sympathetic adrenergic vasoconstrictor fibres.
Influence of abdominal surgical trauma and intraoperative infusion of glucose on splanchnic glucose metabolism in man
Authors: Stjernström Hans , Jorfeldt Lennart , Wiklund Lars 
Published: April 2008

Summary. Abdominal surgery increases blood glucose concentration and peripheral release and splanchnic uptake of gluconeogenic substrates, including alanine. During trauma or sepsis, infusion of glucose fails to depress alanine conversion to glucose. The effect of intra‐operative glucose infusion on splanchnic metabolism was examined in the present study. In eight patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy, splanchnic glucose metabolism was investigated before, during and immediately after surgery. Glucose was infused at a constant rate of 1 mmol/min. Splanchnic blood flow and arterio‐hepatic venous differences of oxygen, glucose, lactate, glycerol, 3‐hydroxybutyrate and alanine were measured. Eight other patients, who received saline instead of glucose, served as a control group.Infusion of glucose resulted in total inhibition of splanchnic glucose release before as well as during and immediately after surgery. This was observed, even before surgery, at an arterial glucose level which was lower than that in the control group at the end of and immediately after surgery, at which no decrease of the splanchnic glucose release was recorded. Changes in neuronal and hormonal factors due to the surgical trauma are considered responsible for this difference in glucose homeostasis. Splanchnic alanine uptake increased during surgery in both groups, but tended to be somewhat lower in the glucose group. The arterial glycerol concentration and splanchnic uptake, as well as the arterial concentration and splanchnic release of 3‐hydroxybutyrate, were reduced. It is concluded that an intravenous infusion of glucose at a rate of 1 mmol/min during abdominal surgery (a) increases the arterial blood glucose level and abolishes splanchnic glucose release, (b) reduces, but does not totally prevent the increase in splanchnic uptake of gluconeogenic substrates, and (c) diminishes lipolysis and the formation of 3‐hydroxybutyrate.
Local regulation of subcutaneous blood flow in normal subjects and in migraine patients before and after single‐dose ergotamine tartrate
Authors: Eickhoff J. H. , Tfelt‐Hansen P. 
Published: April 2008

Summary. Local blood flow regulation of the foot was studied in 15 normal subjects and in nine migraine patients. Changes in arterial and venous pressures were induced by lowering and elevation of the limb. Changes in blood flow were estimated from the changes in the wash‐out rate of a subcutaneous 133‐Xenon depot.The local vasoconstrictor response to increased venous pressure elicited during lowering was identical in the normal subjects and in the migraine patients. During elevation, however, an abnormality in the autoregulation of blood flow could be demonstrated, as a decrease in blood flow during elevation to +40 cm was more pronounced in the patients than in the normal subjects (P=0·04).About 3 h after 0·5 mg ergotamine tartrate/70 kg body weight i.v. the local regulation of blood flow had markedly changed in normal subjects as well as in migraine patients. During elevation to +20 and to +40 cm, blood flow increased significantly (P=0·01 and P=0·02). In two subjects the isotope depot was infiltrated with lidocaine and the ergotamine‐induced increase in blood flow during elevation was blocked. The results may indicate that the veno‐receptor of the veno‐arteriolar reflex underlying the local vasoconstrictor response is a tension receptor, which due to the veno‐constrictor effect of ergotamine is triggered even at heart level.
Osteoporosis and normality: how to express the bone mineral content of lumbar vertebrae
Authors: Krølner Bjørn 
Published: April 2008

Summary. Bone mineral content of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lumbar vertebrae (lumbar BMC) was measured in 70 normal women (aged 19–88 years) and 72 post‐menopausal women (aged 58–89 years) with primary osteoporosis using dual‐photon (153Gd) absorptiometry. The inter‐individual variation of lumbar BMC was 26·7% in normal women. This figure could be reduced to 13·9%, if lumbar BMC was normalized to age (or years after the menopause), body height, body weight, and vertebral size according to multiple regression analysis. The reduction thus obtained of the inter‐individual variation in normal post‐menopausal women was statistically insignificant, however, and it appeared that other variables were of importance as to lumbar BMC of older women.Mean lumbar BMC of the osteoporotic women was 41% lower than that of normal pre‐menopausal women. The separation between normal and osteoporotic individuals became less clear, if lumbar BMC was normalized as mentioned. The data suggest that spinal osteoporosis is predominantly a condition of normal small old women with diminutive vertebrae and early menopause.It is recommended that lumbar BMC is expressed as the total mineral mass of the bones measured, the normal range being BMC of healthy pre‐menopausal women. Normalization to age, body height, body weight, and vertebral size seems rather speculative.
Determination of the subcutaneous tissue to blood partition coefficient in patients with severe leg ischaemia by a double isotope washout technique
Authors: Bjerre‐Jepsen K. , Faris I. , Henriksen O. , Tønnesen K. H. 
Published: April 2008

Summary. Knowledge of the tissue to blood partition coefficient (λ) is essential for calculation of the perfusion coefficient in a single tissue based on measurements of the washout of locally injected isotopes. No measurements of λ for Xenon in subcutaneous tissue in the leg have been done in patients with occlusive arterial disease. In 12 patients with occlusive arterial disease in the legs λ for Xenon was determined in subcutaneous tissue in the calf region and foot as the ratio between the washout rate constant of 131I‐Antipyrine and 133Xe. A mixture of the two indicators was injected subcutaneously laterally on the calf and in the first interosseous space on the foot. The time until the curves followed a monoexponential course varied between 15 and 45 min in the calf and 5 and 45 min in the foot.The calculated λ for Xe showed a great variance between individuals in calf as well as foot. Mean value was 3·7 ml · g‐1 (range: 1·7–10·7) in the calf and 2·7 ml· g‐1 (range: 1·2–4·9) in the foot.It is concluded that λ measurements are necessary for determination of subcutaneous blood flow from 133Xe washout curves in these patients. Determination of λ is especially important when comparisons are made between individuals.
Response of finger systolic blood pressure to cold provocation in cases with hypertension and diabetes
Authors: Thulesius Olav , Valminxy Klas , Todoreskov Radivoj 
Published: April 2008

Summary. Finger systolic blood pressure during cooling was determined in 21 hypertensive, 22 diabetics and 18 control individuals. Blood pressure determination was made using a miniature tourniquet on the middle phalanx and a strain‐gauge flow sensor on the finger tip. Pressure was measured at 35°C and upon stepwise local cooling down to 5°C. With this technique the following observations were made:(1) Systolic blood pressure declined slightly in controls.(2) The reduction of finger systolic blood pressure was significantly more pronounced in patients with essential hypertension and diabetes, 17 and 23% at 5°C compared to control level at 35°C.(3) These changes may be explained simply on the basis of physical factors such as altered wall composition resulting in decreased and retarded compliance.
Splanchnic galactose uptake in patients with cirrhosis following single injection
Authors: Ranek L. , Lindskov J. , Tygstrup N. , Medical K. Winkler 
Published: April 2008

Summary. The galactose elimination capacity is used as a quantitative liver function test and is supposed to express the functioning liver cell mass. Clinical observations indicate, however, that the galactose elimination capacity overestimates functioning liver cell mass, and we therefore compared hepatic (splanchnic) and extrahepatic, extrarenal galactose elimination after a single injection of galactose in 23 patients with reduced liver function.The galactose elimination capacity was consistently greater than the hepatic (splanchnic) galactose elimination rate, estimated during liver vein catheterization. The difference was on the average 0·68 mmol min1 (SD ±0·19,P < 0·001) or about 40% of the galactose elimination capacity.If this difference, partly or fully, is due to extrahepatic extrarenal elimination, the clinical test for galactose elimination needs a correction (of the order of magnitude of 0·7 mmol min1) to serve as an absolute measure of the hepatic functional capacity, but since the hepatic uptake rate may be underestimated following a single injection, the correction may be smaller.