bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Allergy and autoimmune disease: a registry‐based study
Authors: Lindelöf B. , Granath F. , Tengvall‐Linder M. , Lindelöf H. , Ekbom A. 
Published: December 2008

SummaryBackground
Allergy and autoimmunity are two potential outcomes of a dysregulated immune system, but the relationship between them is unclear. It has been hypothesized that they could be inversely associated because of different T helper cell reactivity patterns. However, both positive and negative associations have been reported. Therefore, our aim was to perform a large epidemiological study with a defined allergic disease cohort.Methods
During the years 1990–2002, 68 770 subjects were tested for total serum IgE (Total‐IgE) and 72 228 were tested with Phadiatop for diagnosing allergic disease at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. This cohort was then linked with the Swedish Inpatient Registry 1968–2004 for a follow‐up with regard to recorded discharges for 28 autoimmune diseases. We then used Cox regression and logistic regression to estimate the risk of autoimmune diseases in general in the allergy‐tested subjects.Results
Subjects with positive Phadiatop test were at a statistically decreased risk of subsequent autoimmune disease in comparison with subjects with negative test; hazard ratio (HR): 0.80 [95% (Confidence interval) CI: 0.68–0.94). Prior autoimmune disease was associated with a decreased risk of positive Phadiatop test [odds ratio: 0.83 (95% CI: 0.72–0.96)] in comparison with negative test. Subjects with highly elevated Total‐IgE were at a statistically increased risk of a subsequent autoimmune disease in comparison with subjects with normal levels [HR: 1.36 (95% CI: 1.09–1.70)], but no association was found between prior autoimmune disease and different Total‐IgE levels.Conclusion
The study supports the hypothesis that allergy, defined as positive Phadiatop test, could be inversely related to autoimmune disease but this association is weak.
Levothyroxine (LT4) suppression treatment for benign thyroid nodules alters coagulation
Authors: Demir Tevfik , Akinci Baris , Comlekci Abdurrahman , Karaoglu Oguzhan , Ozcan Mehmet Ali , Yener Serkan , Yuksel Faize , Secil Mustafa , Yesil Sena 
Published: December 2008

SummaryObjective  Endogenous hyperthyroidism is associated with altered coagulation. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of levothyroxine (LT4) suppression treatment for benign thyroid nodules on coagulation system.Design  Prospective case‐control study.Patients  Thirty consecutive euthyroid pre‐menopausal women with nodular goitre disease and 28 healthy controls were included in the study.Measurements  Plasma fibrinogen, d‐dimer, von Willebrand factor (vWF), tissue factor (TF), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI‐1) and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) levels were measured at baseline and after LT4 suppression therapy.Results  Plasma levels of fibrinogen, d‐dimer, vWF, TF and PAI‐1 increased significantly after treatment with LT4 for 1 year. Serum FT4 was a significant predictor of increased fibrinogen, vWF and PAI‐1 levels, when the data was controlled for age and BMI.Conclusions  Our results suggest that LT4 suppression therapy for benign thyroid nodules is associated with enhanced coagulation.
Role of aldosterone and angiotensin II in insulin resistance: an update
Authors: Lastra‐Lastra Guido , Sowers James R. , Restrepo‐Erazo Katherine , Manrique‐Acevedo Camila , Lastra‐González Guido 
Published: December 2008

SummaryThe role of the Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone system (RAAS) on the development of insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease is an area of growing interest. Most of the deleterious actions of the RAAS on insulin sensitivity appear to be mediated through activation of the Angiotensin II (Ang II) Receptor type 1 (AT1R) and increased production of mineralocorticoids. The underlying mechanisms leading to impaired insulin sensitivity remain to be fully elucidated, but involve increased production of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress. Both experimental and clinical studies also implicate aldosterone in the development of insulin resistance, hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, cardiovascular tissue fibrosis, remodelling, inflammation and oxidative stress. There is abundant evidence linking aldosterone, through non‐genomic actions, to defective intracellular insulin signalling, impaired glucose homeostasis and systemic insulin resistance not only in skeletal muscle and liver but also in cardiovascular tissue. Blockade of the different components of the RAAS, in particular Ang II and AT1R, results in attenuation of insulin resistance, glucose homeostasis, as well as decreased cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. These beneficial effects go beyond to those expected with isolated control of hypertension. This review focuses on the role of Ang II and aldosterone in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, as well as in clinical relevance of RAAS blockade in the prevention and treatment of the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.
Pushing the vibrator ground‐force envelope towards low frequencies
Authors: Wei Zhouhong 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTSeveral mechanical and hydraulic limitations hinder the ground‐force energy output of a seismic vibrator at low frequencies. The hydraulic pump flow, pump response time, reaction mass stroke, servo valve stroke, engine horsepower, accumulator size, harmonic distortion and vehicle chassis isolation each play a role in limiting the ground‐force energy output of vibrators. In addition, the peak‐decoupling force – which is defined as the smaller value of either the maximum peak force or the hold‐down weight – also plays a role in limiting ground‐force energy production. A model useful for simulating seismic vibrator dynamics is developed to evaluate the impact of these parameters on the vibrator fundamental force envelope at low frequencies. Model data show that among these factors the reaction mass stroke and the peak‐decoupling force are key parameters for setting the target fundamental force that can be achieved at low frequencies. Formulas are derived to estimate fundamental force, peak force and the reaction mass displacement. These formulas can serve as guidelines for sweep designers who plan to design low frequency sweeps with considerable dwell time in the lower frequency ranges. Test data show that formulas can be used to profile the vibrator envelope at low frequencies.
Comparison of scaling methods for waveform inversion
Authors: Jang Ugeun , Min Dong‐Joo , Shin Changsoo 
Published: December 2008

ABSTRACTWaveform inversion can lead to faint images for later times due to geometrical spreading. The proper scaling of the steepest‐descent direction can enhance faint images in waveform inversion results. We compare the effects of different scaling techniques in waveform inversion algorithms using the steepest‐descent method. For the scaling method we use the diagonal of the pseudo‐Hessian matrix, which can be applied in two different ways. One is to scale the steepest‐descent direction at each frequency independently. The other is to scale the steepest‐descent direction summed over the entire frequency band. The first method equalizes the steepest‐descent directions at different frequencies and minimizes the effects of the band‐limited source spectrum in waveform inversion. In the second method, since the steepest‐descent direction summed over the entire frequency band is divided by the diagonal of the pseudo‐Hessian matrix summed over the entire frequency band, the band‐limited property of the source wavelet spectrum still remains in the scaled steepest‐descent directions. The two scaling methods were applied to both standard and logarithmic waveform inversion. For standard waveform inversion, the method that scales the steepest‐descent direction at every frequency step gives better results than the second method. On the other hand, logarithmic waveform inversion is not sensitive to the scaling method, because taking the logarithm of wavefields automatically means that results for the steepest‐descent direction at each frequency are commensurate with each other. If once the steepest‐descent directions are equalized by taking the logarithm of wavefields in logarithmic waveform inversion, the additional equalizing effects by the scaling method are not as great as in conventional waveform inversion.
BioCycle study: design of the longitudinal study of the oxidative stress and hormone variation during the menstrual cycle
Authors: Wactawski‐Wende Jean , Schisterman Enrique F. , Hovey Kathleen M. , Howards Penelope P. , Browne Richard W. , Hediger Mary , Liu Aiyi , Trevisan Maurizio 
Published: December 2008

SummaryStudies in both human and animal species have suggested that oxidative stress may be associated with health outcomes, including the risk of infertility in both males and females. Sex hormones have been shown to have antioxidant properties. The difficulty in studying the role of oxidative stress in females is partly due to fluctuation in these endogenous sex hormones across the menstrual cycle.The aim of this study was to determine the association of oxidative stress levels with endogenous reproductive hormone levels and antioxidants, including vitamin levels, across the menstrual cycle in a prospective cohort of premenopausal women. The goal was to enrol 250 healthy, regularly menstruating premenopausal women for two menstrual cycles. Participants visited the clinic up to 8 times per cycle, at which time blood and urine were collected. The visits occurred at key hormonally defined phases of the menstrual cycle, with the help of an algorithm based on cycle length and data from a fertility monitor. In addition, participants were administered standardised questionnaires, had various physical measures taken, and had other pertinent data collected. A total of 259 women were enrolled in this study, with 250 completing two cycles, despite a demanding study protocol which participants were required to follow. This report describes the study design, baseline characteristics and visit completion rate for the BioCycle study.
Neural tube defects: an analysis of neighbourhood‐ and individual‐level socio‐economic characteristics
Authors: Grewal Jagteshwar , Carmichael Suzan L. , Song Jun , Shaw Gary M. 
Published: December 2008

SummarySeveral studies have reported that neural tube defects (NTD) occur more frequently among children born to women of lower socio‐economic status (SES). This study investigated the relationship between individual‐ and neighbourhood‐level SES and the risk of an NTD‐affected pregnancy. Data were drawn from a population‐based case‐control study of fetuses and infants among a cohort of California births between July 1999 and June 2003. Information on individual SES was obtained via telephone interviews with mothers of 337 (76% of eligible) cases and 626 (79% of eligible) non‐malformed liveborn controls. Respondents' addresses were linked to the 2000 US Census to characterise six measures of neighbourhood SES (education, poverty, unemployment, occupation, crowding and rental occupancy).The analyses indicated that relative to women with a high school education, those with less than a high school education had a 1.7‐fold increased risk of delivering infants with NTDs [95% CI 1.2, 2.6]. Twofold elevated risks for NTDs were observed for women with less than a high school education who lived in neighbourhoods where a majority of residents had not graduated from high school [95% CI 1.3, 3.1]. No consistent risk gradients were observed between NTD‐affected pregnancies and indicators of lower neighbourhood SES. Results for phenotype subgroups were similar to those for all cases. Low maternal education was associated with an elevated risk of NTD in offspring. This risk varied by the education profile of the neighbourhood: women who did not graduate from high school and lived in less educated neighbourhoods exhibited a higher risk.
Significance of pre‐storage leucoreduction for autologous blood
Authors: Tasaki T. , Ohto H. , Sasaki S. , Kanno T. , Igari T. , Hoshi Y. 
Published: December 2008

Background and Objectives  To reveal the associations between cytokines in blood and transfusion‐related adverse events, we studied whether pre‐storage leucoreduction of autologous blood could reduce the degree of inflammatory responses, infection rates, or the duration of hospitalizations.Materials and Methods  Patients scheduled to donate autologous blood for elective orthopaedic surgery were assigned to receive either leucoreduced (LR) or non‐leucoreduced (N‐LR) autologous blood based on their date of birth. Levels of cytokines in the autologous blood, values for C‐reactive protein, complete blood count and body temperature of the patients, as well as adverse clinical events, were evaluated periodically.Results  Four hundred patients entered this study (LR group: 196, N‐LR group: 204). The production of cytokines, excluding interleukin 1β (IL‐1β), was suppressed for the LR group. However, for unknown reasons, IL‐1β actually increased during storage for the LR group. There were no differences between the two groups in the length of hospital stay, postoperative C‐reactive protein changes, leucocyte count, or body temperature, and no clinical problems associated with blood transfusion were observed in either group.Conclusion  Pre‐storage leucoreduction for autologous blood may be effective to suppress cytokine accumulation. However, clinical benefits such as prevention of febrile non‐haemolytic reactions could not be demonstrated.
Expression of apoptotic tumour necrosis factor receptor‐associated factor, caspase recruitment domain and cell death‐inducing DFF‐45 effector genes in therapy‐treated renal cell carcinoma
Authors: RAJANDRAM RETNAGOWRI , PAT BETTY K , LI JUN , JOHNSON DAVID W , GOBE GLENDA C 
Published: December 2008

SUMMARYAim:  Dysfunction in apoptosis plays a role in development of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This investigation aimed to identify expression of apoptosis‐related genes not previously characterized in human RCC.Methods:  The RCC ACHN cell line was treated with radiation plus interferon‐alpha to induce significant apoptosis. Apoptosis RNA microarrays were used to compare control and treated RCC for apoptosis‐regulatory genes with significantly altered expression (≥twofold). Translational correlates were analysed using western blot. Immunohistochemistry of human RCC and non‐cancerous kidney in tissue microarrays was also completed.Results:  Several gene families, not well characterized in RCC, were significantly upregulated in RNA microarray. These were the tumour necrosis factor receptor‐associated factors (TRAF1, 3 and 4), caspase recruitment domain (NOL3 and PYCARD), and cell death‐inducing DFF‐45 effector domain (ICAD/CAD) genes. The protein expression patterns did not always increase similarly, perhaps indicating some post‐transcriptional controls needing further investigation. TRAF1 had significantly increased expression for RNA and protein (P < 0.01). NOL3 had significantly decreased whole‐cell protein expression (P < 0.05), but had strongly localized nuclear positivity in RCC in the immunohistochemistry.Conclusion:  These newly identified RCC apoptosis genes have shown potential for improving outcome in other cancers and may prove to have the same potential in RCC with further study.
Serial monitoring of nutritional status in Chinese peritoneal dialysis patients by Subjective Global Assessment and comprehensive Malnutrition Inflammation Score
Authors: CHENG TIMOTHY HUA‐TSE , LAM DEBBY HIU‐HA , TING STEVEN KONG‐LING , WONG CLAUDIA LAI‐YIN , KWAN BONNIE CHING‐HA , CHOW KAI‐MING , LAW MAN‐CHING , LI PHILIP KAM‐TAO , SZETO CHEUK‐CHUN 
Published: December 2008

SUMMARYAim:  The Malnutrition Inflammation Score (MIS) has been proposed for the assessment of nutritional status in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. The MIS and the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) for serial monitoring of nutritional status in PD patients were compared.Methods:  The change in the MIS and SGA overall score of 59 PD patients (28 male) over 12 months was studied. Clinical factors relating to the discrepancy between the two instruments were explored.Results:  The average patient age was 55.8 ± 9.7 years. Thirty of the 59 patients (50.8%) had exact agreement in the changed MIS and SGA scores. Cohen's κ score was 0.274, indicating a modest degree of agreement. For the detection of deterioration in nutritional status and using the MIS as the reference measure, the SGA had a sensitivity of 61.9% and specificity of 86.8%; serum ferritin level was substantially higher in the ones whose SGA did not detect a deterioration in nutrition (1464.1 ± 873.3 vs 800.5 ± 561.6 pmol/L, P = 0.046). For the detection of improvement in nutritional status, the SGA had a sensitivity of 45.8% and specificity of 82.9%; patients whose SGA did not detect an improvement in nutrition were dialyzed longer (53.8 ± 35.3 vs 27.6 ± 18.9 months, P = 0.038), had higher total iron binding capacity (TIBC) (45.6 ± 5.5 vs 38.2 ± 8.1 µmol/L, P = 0.015), had higher total Kt/V (2.02 ± 0.36 vs 1.75 ± 0.23, P = 0.048) and higher normalized protein nitrogen appearance (1.16 ± 0.25 vs 0.95 ± 0.23 g/kg per day, P = 0.048).Conclusion:  The longitudinal changes in the MIS and SGA score have modest agreement with each other. However, PD patients with a longer duration of dialysis, higher serum ferritin, TIBC, total Kt/V or normalized protein nitrogen appearance tend to have discrepancies between the longitudinal changes in the MIS and SGA overall score.
Increased risks of chronic kidney disease associated with prescribed Chinese herbal products suspected to contain aristolochic acid
Authors: LAI MING‐NAN , LAI JUNG‐NIEN , CHEN PAU‐CHUNG , TSENG WEI‐LUM , CHEN YA‐YIN , HWANG JING‐SHIANG , WANG JUNG‐DER 
Published: December 2008

SUMMARYAim:  Nephropathy associated with aristolochic acid (AA) has been documented by human and animal studies. Ancient Chinese herbology claimed to reduce toxicity in their mixtures. It was the objective of this study to determine the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) associated with AA‐related Chinese herbal products (CHP) or mixtures of herbs in a national cohort.Methods:  A retrospective follow‐up study was conducted, using a systematic random sample (200 000 people) in the National Health Insurance reimbursement database during 1997–2002. The incidence rates of CKD and end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) were calculated for the whole sample and those that had used CHP suspected to contain AA. Cox regression models were constructed to control potential confounders, including age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and use of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen.Results:  A total of 199 843 persons were included in the final analysis, 102 464 (51.3%) men and 97 379 (48.7%) women, with an average incidence rate of 1964/106 person‐years for CKD and 279/106 person‐years for ESRD. After controlling other risk factors, the hazard ratios for development of CKD seemed to increase for patients that had consumed more than 30 g Mu‐Tong, and more than 60 g Fangchi.Conclusion:  Prescription of more than 30 g Mu‐Tong or more than 60 g Fangchi CHP was associated with an increased risk of developing CKD. In addition to prohibiting the use of Guan‐Mu‐Tong and Guang‐Fangchi, patients who have used these CHP should continue to be followed up.
Purinergic receptor‐mediated effects of adenosine 5′‐triphosphate in urological malignant diseases
Authors: Shabbir Majid , Burnstock Geoffrey 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAdenosine 5′‐triphosphate (ATP) mediates a variety of biological functions and has been shown to play a physiological role in almost every system in the body. In the genito‐urinary system, extracellular ATP has been shown to play a functional role in several different capacities, ranging from nociception in the ureter and bladder, to erectile dysfunction via its action on different ‘purinergic receptors’. Discovery of the trophic effects of ATP has led to a surge in interest in this signalling system in various malignancies. To date five P2 receptor subtypes have been implicated in the growth inhibition of cancer cells, namely P2X5, P2X7, P2Y1, P2Y2and P2Y11. Limited data are available on urological malignancies. ATP induces its anti‐neoplastic effect primarily via purinergic receptor‐mediated apoptosis via calcium‐independent pathways, and this has been confirmedin vitroandin vivo. Studies have highlighted functional roles for the P2X5and/or P2Y11receptors in both hormone refractory prostate cancer and high‐grade bladder cancer, although the contributory effect of pro‐apoptotic P2X7receptors remains unclear. Clinical trials have shown intravenous ATP successfully attenuates a range of systemic symptoms associated with advanced malignancies. This raises the possibility that selective targeting of specific aberrant pathways may allow for treatment of advanced primary malignancies and their systemic effects.
Implications of insulin‐like growth factor‐I for prostate cancer therapies
Authors: Kojima Satoko , Inahara Masahiko , Suzuki Hiroyoshi , Ichikawa Tomohiko , Furuya Yuzo 
Published: December 2008

AbstractIn the last decade, abundant evidence has suggested that the insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) family comprises a multi‐component network of molecules involved in the regulation of both physiological and pathological growth processes in the prostate. The IGF axis plays an important role in the tumorigenesis and neoplastic growth of prostate cancer. Epidemiological observations indicate that circulating IGF‐I levels are positively associated with increased risk of prostate cancer. Activation of IGF‐I receptor (IGF‐IR) by IGF‐I has mitogenic and anti‐apoptotic effects on normal and malignant prostate cells. Therapeutic alternatives in men with progressive prostate cancer after androgen ablation are very limited and more effective therapies are needed for such patients. Inactivation of the IGF‐I axis represents a potential target to treat androgen‐independent prostate cancer. This review addresses epidemiological studies of IGF‐I and therapeutic strategies including reduction of IGF‐I levels, inhibition of IGF‐IR and the signaling mechanisms involved.
THE URINARY ASPECTS OF PARAPLEGIA
Authors: DICK T. B. S. 
Published: December 2008

SUMMARYThe writer has reviewed in retrospect some of the problems arising from the urological aspect in 187 paraplegics admitted to Winwick Spinal Centre between February 1940 and June 1946.He found that posture appeared to play a major part in the control of infection, also that a closed bladder of the reflex cord or cauda equina type was the most satisfactory end result. Examination of seventeen further cases at least three and a half years after injury appears to confirm these findings. The problem of early bladder drainage is reviewed; the prevention of calculi, the abolition of residual urine, and urinary antiseptics are discussed and certain conclusions drawn.My thanks are due to Dr Fergus Ferguson and Sir Geoffrey Jefferson who were responsible for stimulating my interest in this work and made it possible for me to re‐examine the cases at Lyme Green, and who have always been ready with valuable advice.
A FURTHER CASE OF HYPERNEPHROMA METASTASISING TO THE THYROID
Authors: BENNETT W. E. J. 
Published: December 2008

SUMMARY1. Twenty cases of hypernephroma metastasising to the thyroid have been collected and one has been added.2. An account of this case which had misleading features is given.3. In all cases of growths exhibiting unusual features a carcinoma of the kidney should be excluded.My thanks are due to Sir Cecil Wakeley for permission to publish the clinical details of this case and for his encouragement, to Professor H. A. Magnus for the use of the pathological reports and helpful advice, to Dr J. Blewett for permission to reproduce the radiological findings, and to Mr Smith for the photographs.