bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of patient satisfaction with care on health‐related quality of life: a prospective study
Authors: Renzi C , Tabolli S , Picardi A , Abeni D , Puddu P , Braga M 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACTObjectives  To evaluate the effect of patient satisfaction on health‐related quality of life among dermatological outpatients, independently of patients’ sociodemographic, and clinical characteristics.Design  Prospective cohort study. Satisfaction was evaluated with a standardized questionnaire three days after the visit by telephone interview. Quality of life and psychiatric disorders were measured with validated instruments (Skindex‐29 and Ghq‐12) before the dermatological visit and after four weeks. At the four week interview also self‐reported medication adherence was assessed.Setting  Outpatient clinics of a large dermatological hospital in Rome, Italy.Patients  A consecutive sample of 1389 outpatients was approached, and 52% agreed to participate. Inclusion criteria were met by 424 patients, and 396 (93%) of them completed the study.Main outcome measures  Improvement in health related quality of life.Results  At multivariate analysis satisfied patients have approximately twice the odds for an improved quality of life on the emotions scale (OR = 1.99; 95%CI 1.1 to 3.7; P = 0.03) and on the functioning scale (OR = 2.2; 95%CI 1.1 to 4.7; P = 0.03). Patients with psychiatric disorders at baseline were less likely to have an improved quality of life on the functioning scale (OR = 0.3; 95%CI 0.2 to 0.8; P = 0.01).Conclusions  This is the first prospective study showing that patient satisfaction and psychiatric disorders have a significant effect on quality of life improvement among dermatological patients, independently of patient characteristics. Particular attention should be devoted to improving physicians’ interpersonal skills, the major component of patient satisfaction.
‘Dalmatian dog’‐like skin eruption (two cases of multifocal fixed drug eruption induced by mefenamic acid)
Authors: Rallis E , Rigopoulos D , Anyfantakis V , Kalogirou O , Christophidou E , Papadakis P , Katsambas A 
Published: October 2005

AbstractMefenamic acid is a common widely prescribed drug with analgesic activity. Authors report two cases of multifocal fixed drug eruption induced by mefenamic acid. Cases were diagnosed on basis of clinical examination and histopathology of skin lesion. Only a few cases have been reported in the literature and these are the first two described in Greece.
No association between a 3’ untranslated region polymorphism in the neprilysin gene and Alzheimer's disease in the Japanese population
Authors: LI Guoyan , SHIBATA Nobuto , NAKAMURA Shinji , TAKAHASHI Tadashi , UEKI Akira , ARAI Heii 
Published: October 2005

AbstractBackground:  Alzheimer's disease (AD) is caused by neuronal cell death with aggregation of amyloid‐β (Aβ) in the brain cortex and hippocampus. Neprilysin (NEP) plays an important role mainly in the degradation of Aβ. The NEP‐knockout mouse shows low degradation of Aβ and is confirmed to have AD. The frequency of the C/C genotype of NEP159 C/T polymorphism in the 3’ untranslated region (UTR) of the NEP gene Apolipoprotein E (Apo E) ɛ4 group has been reported to be higher than that of the control group. In the present study, we screened for the polymorphism in our Japanese AD and control subjects. Furthermore, we searched for a new polymorphism in exon 1 and exon 24 in the NEP gene.Methods:  121 sporadic AD (SAD) patients were recruited from among the inpatients and outpatients of the hospital the authors work in. The 101 age‐matched control subjects were recruited from healthy volunteers with no history of dementia or other neuropsychiatric diseases. The NEP159 C/T polymorphism and Apo E were genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) method and a new polymorphism was detected by the polymerase chain reaction–single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR–SSCP) method.Results:  We confirmed that the frequency of the Apo E ɛ4‐allele was higher in the SAD group than in the control group. There was no significant difference in genotypic distribution of the NEP159 C/T polymorphism between the control and SAD groups.Conclusion:  Our studies suggest that there is no genetic association between the NEP159 C/T polymorphism and the risk of Japanese SAD. Our results indicate that further genetic studies of the NEP gene should be performed in other ethnic groups.
Current concept and future research directions of mild cognitive impairment
Authors: ARAI Hiroyuki 
Published: October 2005

AbstractAlzheimer's disease (AD) generally begins with mild memory problems which occur in an insidious manner and progresses to the development of multiple cognitive impairments. There is a ‘gray’ area between what is classified as ‘normal’ and what is classified as ‘dementia’, currently called mild cognitive impairment (MCI). In this article, a case of MCI is described, and the diagnosis, assessment, subclassification (pre‐Alzheimer type and white matter lesion type) and future therapeutic plans for MCI are reviewed.
Studies on diagnostic markers for Alzheimer's disease
Authors: URAKAMI Katsuya , TANIGUCHI Miyako , INOUE Masashi , WADA‐ISOE Kenji , WAKUTANI Yosuke , NAKASHIMA Kenji 
Published: October 2005

AbstractIn recent years, Alzheimer's disease (AD) has increased in incidence in Japan and elsewhere, and the marketing of donepezil hydrochloride (Aricept®) has allowed for the treatment of AD. These circumstances have encouraged the development of and research in markers for the early diagnosis of AD. Currently, the measurement of phosphorylated tau protein in the cerebrospinal fluid is considered to provide the most reliable and useful diagnostic marker for AD. For this purpose, a screening test using a touch panel computer can be recommended. The results of our study also suggest that the analysis of acetylcholine receptor α7 genetic polymorphism may be useful as a marker in the treatment with acetylcholine esterase inhibitors.
Successful risperidone therapy for a first episode of musical auditory hallucinations in elderly patients
Authors: OKUMURA Kazuo 
Published: October 2005

AbstractAlthough musical auditory hallucinations (MH) occur mostly in women with a history of hearing disorders, brain tumors or epilepsy, there has been insufficient symptomatological discussion to date. We present two cases in which MH occurring in old age were successfully treated with risperidone (RIS). Case 1 involved a 74‐year‐old woman who complained chiefly of insomnia and abrupt onset of MH without any other symptoms. Case 2 involved an 85‐year‐old woman with a 10‐year history of symptomatic hearing loss who had abrupt onset of MH accompanied by tinnitus. Neither patient had a history of mental illness before their initial examination and they were both treated with RIS in the outpatient clinic. The dose range of 0.2–0.5 mg daily seemed effective, with a therapeutic response appearing in 2–4 weeks. Low‐dose RIS therapy may therefore be effective pharmacotherapy for MH.
Prevalence, incidence, and residual risk of human immunodeficiency virus among community and replacement first‐time blood donors in São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Barreto Claudia C. , Sabino Ester C. , Gonçalez Thelma T. , Laycock Megan E. , Pappalardo Brandee L. , Salles Nanci A. , Wright David J. , Chamone Dalton F. , Busch Michael P. 
Published: October 2005

BACKGROUND:  Concerted efforts have been directed toward recruitment of community rather than replacement donors in Brazil. Time trends and demographic correlates of human immunodeficiency (HIV) prevalence and incidence among first‐time (FT) donors in Brazil were examined by donation type. HIV residual risk from FT‐donor transfusions, and projected yield of p24 antigen and nucleic acid test (NAT) screening were estimated.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  HIV prevalence data and seroreactive specimens were obtained at Fundação Pró‐Sangue/Hemocentro‐de‐São Paulo from 1995 to 2001. To estimate incidence, confirmed‐positive samples from July 1998 through December 2001 were tested with a less‐sensitive (detuned) enzyme immunoassay to detect recent seroconversions. Incidence data were used to estimate residual risk and p24 and NAT yield based on published window periods (WPs).RESULTS:  HIV prevalence was 22 percent higher among the FT community donors than replacement donors (19.6 vs. 16.1 per 10,000; p < 0.01) and 48 percent higher among men than women (19.1 vs. 12.9; p < 0.01). In the multivariable logistic regression, both variables remained significant predictors of HIV prevalence. HIV prevalence decreased from 20.4 (1995) to 13.1 per 10,000 FT donations (2001). HIV incidence was 2.7 per 10,000 person‐years. The estimated rate of infected antibody‐negative donations was 14.9 per 1,000,000 units (95% confidence interval, 9.8‐20.0). It was estimated that addition of p24 antigen, minipool NAT, and individual‐donation NAT assays would detect 3.9 (2.0‐5.8), 8.3 (5.3‐11.3), and 10.8 (7.1‐14.5) WP units per 1,000,000 FT donations, respectively.CONCLUSION:  HIV incidence and residual transfusion risk estimates are approximately 10 times higher in Brazil FT donors compared to US and European FT donors. Community FT donors had higher HIV prevalence than replacement FT donors. The yield of p24 antigen or RNA screening will be low in Brazilian donors, but substantially higher than in US donors.
Platelet glycolytic flux increases stimulated by ultraviolet‐induced stress is not the direct cause of platelet morphology and activation changes: possible implications for the role of glucose in platelet storage
Authors: Li Junzhi , Goodrich Laura , Hansen Eric , Edrich Rick , Gampp Deanna , Goodrich Raymond P. 
Published: October 2005

BACKGROUND:  Stress‐enhanced platelet (PLT) storage lesions include increased glycolysis, discoid‐to‐sphere morphology change, and spontaneous PLT activation. It is not clear if reduction in glycolysis can alleviate storage lesion development.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS:  Apheresis PLT concentrates were exposed to 17.2 J/mL UV light and 50 µM riboflavin, followed by storage with various concentrations of 2‐deoxyglucose (2‐DOG) for 5 days. The control had no UV or 2‐DOG exposure.RESULTS:  Lactate production and glucose consumption were increased significantly to 0.1371 ± 0.0281 and 0.0724 ± 0.0151 mmol per 1012 cells per hour for UV‐treated PLTs, respectively, when compared to control samples. UV treatment induced a decline in pH to 6.55 ± 0.26 for treated PLTs on Day 5, hypotonic shock response (HSR) 33 ± 25 percent, extent of shape change (ESC) to 3.8 ± 3.6 percent, swirl 1.0 ± 1.0 and increased P‐selectin expression 85.2 ± 9.4 percent. Addition of 2‐DOG up to 20 mmol per L significantly reduced lactate production to 0.0515 ± 0.0045 mmol per 1012 cells per hour (p < 0.05) and glucose consumption to 0.0293 ± 0.0060 mmol per 1012 cells per hour and increased pH to 7.35 ± 0.09 in a dose‐dependent manner. 2‐DOG, however, had no effects on HSR, ESC, swirl, and P‐selectin expression. Furthermore, an exaggeration of UV‐stressed PLT aggregation by addition of 2‐DOG was also observed.CONCLUSIONS:  Increased glycolytic flux is not a direct cause for PLT morphology change and spontaneous activation during storage lesion development. Reduction of glucose utilization may increase PLT loss during storage.
Therapeutic efficacy and safety of red blood cells treated with a chemical process (S‐303) for pathogen inactivation: a Phase III clinical trial in cardiac surgery patients
Authors: Benjamin Richard J. , McCullough Jeffrey , Mintz Paul D. , Snyder Edward , Spotnitz William D. , Rizzo Robert J. , Wages David , Lin Jin‐Sying , Wood Lindsey , Corash Laurence , Conlan Maureen G. 
Published: October 2005

BACKGROUND: A randomized, double‐blind trial is reported of the clinical efficacy of red blood cells (RBCs) treated for pathogen inactivation with S‐303, a synthetic labile alkylating agent.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Patients undergoing complex cardiac surgeries were randomly assigned to receive either S‐303–treated (test) or conventional (control) RBC transfusion during surgery and for 6 days thereafter. Efficacy was evaluated by comparing the occurrence of a composite primary endpoint of treatment‐related morbidity (myocardial infarction and renal failure) and mortality.RESULTS: Two‐hundred twenty‐three patients were randomly assigned and 148 patients who received transfusions (74 with S‐303–treated RBCs and 74 with control RBCs) were evaluable. The incidence of the primary endpoint was equivalent between the two groups (22 and 21% in the S‐303–treated and control RBC groups, respectively). Secondary endpoints, including hemoglobin increment (mean, 1.4 vs. 1.5 g/dL), number of RBC transfusions (mean, 4.4 vs. 3.8 units), and other blood product support, were also comparable. The adverse event profile was similar between groups; however, patients who received S‐303 RBCs were significantly more likely to develop constipation and less likely to suffer supraventricular extrasystoles. Four patients (2 test and 2 control) demonstrated positive indirect antiglobulin tests with reactivity for S‐303 RBCs at one or more time points before or after transfusion, without evidence of hemolysis.CONCLUSION: S‐303–treated and conventional RBCs were equivalent with respect to clinical efficacy and safety in supporting the transfusion needs of cardiac surgery patients. Investigations are under way to ascertain the significance of S‐303 RBC antibodies and to prevent their occurrence.
Prediction of change in level of problem behavior among children of bipolar parents
Authors: Wals M. , Reichart C. G. , Hillegers M. H. J. , Nolen W. A. , Van Os J. , Ormel J. , Verhulst F. C. 
Published: October 2005

Objective:  To determine the effects of familial loading, birth weight, and family problems on change in parent‐reported problems across a 14‐month period among children of bipolar parents.Method:  Emotional and behavioral problems in a sample of 140 offspring of bipolar parents and familial loading in first‐ and second‐degree relatives were assessed at two measurements. Parents reported the birth weight of their offspring and completed a questionnaire on family problems. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to assess associations of the three predictors with change in problem scores at follow‐up.Results:  Familial loading of unipolar disorder was a unique predictor for an increase in problem scores from the first to the second measurement with β‐coefficients ranging from 0.17 to 0.25. Birth weight and family problems were not associated with change in problem scores across the two measurements.Conclusion:  Familial loading of unipolar disorder predicted an increase in behavioral and emotional problems across the 14‐month follow‐up.
Surgical treatment of multilevel cervical radiculomyelopathy caused by the concomitant ossification of the ligamentum flavum and the posterior longitudinal ligament
Authors: Yang Jiao‐Chiao , Lin Chien‐Pang , Chan Jun‐Yeen , Liu Yuan‐Kai , Huang Jing‐Shan 
Published: October 2005

Objectives:  A two‐stage operation is essential for patients with cervical spine myelopathy that is the result of concomitant ligamentum flavum and posterior longitudinal ligament ossification.Methods:  Modified open door laminoplasty with a miniplate and screw from the posterior approach was carried out first. Then anterior decompression and fusion with a Casper plate and Surgibone at the C5‐6 intervertebral space were carried out 1 week after the first operation.Results:  One week after the second procedure, the postoperative Nurick score improved from four to two. The patient withstood the whole procedure well and within one week was noted to have improved muscle strength.Conclusions:  The two‐stage operation is a safe and effective choice for treating concomitant OPLL and OLF in the cervical spine with radiculomyelopathy.
What's new in burns trauma?
Authors: Burd Andrew , Noronha Frederick V. 
Published: October 2005

Objectives:  To review advances in burns care in Hong Kong over the past five years and compare these with global advances.Methods:  Global advances have been summarized from literature reviews and current practices detailed from published and ongoing local studies.Results:  Hong Kong is providing a world class burns service and makes a significant contribution to evolving clinical practice on a global scale.Conclusions:  Burns care is continually evolving and survival per se is not the significant challenge it was in previous decades. The emphasis remains on burns prevention but in the event of injuries occurring, quality of survival is the key issue which involves prompt and appropriate acute care, effective reconstruction and holistic rehabilitation.
Interleukin‐6 gene polymorphism is an age‐dependent risk factor for myocardial infarction in men
Authors: Chiappelli M. , Tampieri C. , Tumini E. , Porcellini E. , Caldarera C. M. , Nanni S. , Branzi A. , Lio D. , Caruso M. , Hoffmann E. , Caruso C. , Licastro F. 
Published: October 2005

SummarySeveral studies show that inflammatory components may contribute to atherosclerosis and increase the risk for myocardial infarction (MI). Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) is a key pro‐inflammatory and immune‐modulatory cytokine of relevance for cardiovascular diseases. In this case‐control study, 200 patients with MI and 257 healthy controls were genotyped for the polymorphism present in −174 promoter region of the IL‐6 gene. Plasma concentrations of IL‐6 and C‐reactive protein (CRP) in a group of patients and controls were measured. The −174 C allele was associated with an increased risk of developing MI (OR = 2.886, c.i. = 1.801–4.624, P = 0.0001) in older patients, while no association was found in younger ones. The IL‐6 plasma levels were higher in patients with MI carrying the CC genotype than in GG patients (CC carriers, IL‐6 = 2.97 pg mL−1 vs. GG carriers = 1.81 pg mL−1, P = 0.016). A positive correlation of IL‐6 levels with those of CRP in serum from patients with MI was also found. Data from this study suggest that the C allele of the promoter polymorphism in the IL‐6 gene is a risk factor for MI in the elderly, and the production of the IL‐6 is differentially affected by different genotypes of the IL‐6 −174 promoter polymorphism.
HLA‐C locus alleles distribution in patients from northern Poland with psoriatic arthritis — preliminary report
Authors: Szczerkowska Dobosz A. , Rebała K. , Szczerkowska Z. , Nedoszytko B. 
Published: October 2005

SummaryThe aim of the study was to compare the frequency of human leucocyte antigen‐C (HLA‐C) locus alleles in patients with psoriatic arthritis and in healthy controls in the same ethnic group in Poland, and to correlate them with age of onset of psoriatic skin changes and joints symptoms. HLA‐C locus alleles of 41 patients and 80 controls were determined by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) low‐resolution method. The Cw*06 allele occurred more frequently (P adjusted for multiple comparison = 0.004) in patients with psoriatic arthritis than in controls. Patients who carried the HLA‐Cw*06 allele had a significantly earlier mean age of onset of both psoriasis (P = 0.01) and arthritis (P = 0.008) compared with Cw*06‐negative patients. Our results confirm the association between Cw*06 allele and psoriatic arthritis in the northern Poland population and suggest that the HLA‐Cw*06 may determine not only the disease susceptibility, but also the age of onset of psoriatic arthritis.
Population Pharmacokinetics of Rifapentine and Its Primary Desacetyl Metabolite in South African Tuberculosis Patients
Authors: Langdon Grant , Wilkins Justin , McFadyen Lynn , McIlleron Helen , Smith Peter , Simonsson Ulrika S. H. 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACT
This study was designed to describe the population pharmacokinetics of rifapentine (RFP) and 25-desacetyl RFP in a South African pulmonary tuberculosis patient population. Special reference was made to studying the influence of previous exposure to rifampin (RIF) and the variability in pharmacokinetic parameters between patients and between occasions and the influence of different covariates. Patients were included in the study if they had been receiving first-line antimycobacterial therapy (rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol) for not less than 4 weeks and not more than 6 weeks and were divided into three RFP dosage groups based on weight: 600 mg, <45 kg; 750 mg, 46 to 55 kg; and 900 mg, >55 kg. Participants received a single oral dose of RFP together with concomitant antimycobacterial agents, excluding RIF, on study days 1 and 5 after they ingested a soup-based meal. The RFP and 25-desacetyl RFP concentration-time data were analyzed by nonlinear mixed-effect modeling using NONMEM. The pharmacokinetics of the parent drug were modeled separately, and the individual pharmacokinetic parameters were used as inputs for the 25-desacetyl RFP pharmacokinetic model. A one-compartment disposition model was found to best describe the data for both the parent and the metabolite, and the metabolite was assumed to be formed only from the central compartment of the parent drug. Prior treatment with RIF did not alter the pharmacokinetics of RFP but appeared to increase the excretion of 25-desacetyl RFP in a nonlinear fashion. The RFP oral clearance and volume of distribution were found to increase by 0.049 liter/h and 0.691 liter, respectively, with a 1-kg increase from the median weight of 50 kg. The oral clearance of 25-desacetyl RFP was found to be 35% lower in female patients. The model developed here describes the population pharmacokinetics of RFP and its primary metabolite in tuberculosis patients and includes the effects of prior administration with RIF and covariate factors.
Application of Quantitative Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR in Assessing Drug Efficacy against the Intracellular Pathogen
Cryptosporidium parvum
In Vitro
Authors: Cai Xiaomin , Woods Keith M. , Upton Steve J. , Zhu Guan 
Published: October 2005

ABSTRACT

We report here on a quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) assay for assessing drug efficacy against the intracellular pathogen
Cryptosporidium parvum
. The qRT-PCR assay detects 18S rRNA transcripts from both parasites, that is, the cycle threshold for 18S rRNA from parasites (

C
T

[P18S]
) and host cells (

C
T

[H18S]
), and evaluates the relative expression between parasite and host rRNA levels (i.e., Δ

C
T

=

C
T

[P18S]
−

C
T

[H18S]
) to minimize experimental and operational errors. The choice of qRT-PCR over quantitative PCR (qPCR) in this study is based on the observations that (i) the relationship between the logarithm of infected parasites (log[
P
]) and the normalized relative level of rRNA (ΔΔ

C
T

) is linear, with a fourfold dynamic range, by qRT-PCR but sigmoidal (nonlinear) by qPCR; and (ii) the level of RNA represents that of live parasites better than that of DNA, because the decay of RNA (99% in ∼3 h) in dead parasites is faster than that of DNA (99% in ∼24 to 48 h) under in vitro conditions. The reliability of the qRT-PCR method was validated by testing the efficacies of nitazoxanide and paromomycin on the development of two strains of
C. parvum
(IOWA and KSU-1) in HCT-8 cells in vitro. Both compounds displayed dose-dependent inhibitions. The observed MIC
50
values for nitazoxanide and paromomycin were 0.30 to 0.45 μg/ml and 89.7 to 119.0 μg/ml, respectively, comparable to the values reported previously. Using the qRT-PCR assay, we have also observed that pyrazole could inhibit
C. parvum
development in vitro (MIC
50
= 15.8 mM), suggesting that the recently discovered
Cryptosporidium
alcohol dehydrogenases may be explored as new drug targets.